Others have developed behaviors that allow them to avoid the harshest stress from the environment. Human activities have greatly changed wetlands worldwide. In coastal areas wetlands are also drained for building sites. The Mississippi delta is a typical area that has been substantially drained then built upon. Of course altering soil is not without consequences.
Drained soils can be very productive for agriculture crops and very desirable for building.
The saturated soils are generally drained using tile. In this method perforated plastic pipes or loosely fitted ceramic pipes are emplaced in a trench with a grade that will allow the water to flow away from the saturated soil into a sink. The tile is covered with gravel to prevent soil from clogging it immediately. Tiles have limited lifetimes and must be replaced periodically if the soil is to remain dry. Once the soil has been drained, the physical, chemical, and biological properties change rapidly.