Standing water in wetlands allow sediments to settle and pollutants to be absorbed by plants. This improves our water quality and lowers water treatment costs for home use. Farmers use wetlands as grazing areas or hay crops. In drought years, the wetlands may be the only hay available. Also, many Type I wetlands are farmed once the areas dry up.
Wetlands filter out nutrients that run off upland areas.
Wetland plants use up many of these nutrients, keeping them out of streams and rivers where they would over-enrich the waters. Wetlands are among the richest habitats on Earth. They provide essential habitats for the breeding, nesting, rearing , and feeding of a wide variety of wildlife species. Wetlands also provide winter cover and predator escape habitats. Wetlands provide habitats for more than 200 species of birds.