Research also know relatively little about the role of natural hydrology in wetland systems. Without this knowledge, it is difficult to identify realistic goals and capabilities for mitigation and restoration projects. It is known that the location and design engineering play a crucial role in determining project success. Wetland location in the watershed significantly alters system function. The ability of a system to trap sediment or reduce point and non-point source pollution is directly related to its position in the watershed.
More research is necessary in order to identify optimal project designs.
Project designs should attempt to create a self-maintaining system, to allow for a minimum of upkeep. If the project cannot maintain itself, it will be of little ecological use in the long-run and certainly will not replace functions of lost wetland acreage. Moreover, standards need to be developed to evaluate the success of created wetlands and determine the extent of human manipulation necessary to maintain them in early successional stages. The group reinforced the need for a functional assessment technique that included broader aspects of resource valuation. Such a procedure would be useful in the development of definitions and criteria to classify wetland values since there needs to be some ranking system to protect the most environmentally valuable wetland systems.