Wetlands provide numerous important benefits to society which are summarized below. In many respects, wetlands function much like sophisticated sewage treatment plants by removing nutrients and other pollutants prior to discharge to a waterway. This is done at virtually no cost to the taxpaying public via solar energy. Wetlands acts as buffers which trap sediments resulting from natural and man-induced erosion. Increased development along a watercourse can hinder a wetlands capability to trap these sediments.
Wetlands absorb and store a significant amount of surface water runoff during storm periods.
They also gradually release a portion of this stored water to streams and maintain critical baseflows, especially during periods of drought. Wetlands provide essential wildlife habitat as well. A large number of animals including threatened and endangered species use wetlands for breeding, feeding or refuge. All wetlands function in providing an important source of food for wildlife and represent a critical link in life cycles and food webs. The Great Swamp is a remnant of a large Pleistocene glacial lake known as Glacial Lake Passaic, which was formed by the meltwaters of the Wisconsin Glacier approximately 12,000 to 15,000 years ago.