Wetlands and the functions they provide vary. Wetlands also change over time and may function differently from year to year or season to season. Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems. What Wetlands Do Wetlands are home to wildlife. Over 200 species of birds rely on wetlands for feeding, nesting, foraging, and roosting.
Wetlands provide areas for recreation, education, and aesthetics.
More than 98 million people hunt, fish, birdwatch, or photograph wildlife. Tamarack Bog Nature Preserve, Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area LaGrange County - Rich Fields, IDNR Division of Public Information and Education Wetland plants and soils naturally store and filter nutrients and sediments. Calm wetland waters, with their flat surface and flow characteristics, allow these materials to settle out of the water column, where plants in the wetland take up certain nutrients from the water. As a result, our lakes, rivers and streams are cleaner and our drinking water is safer. Man-made wetlands can even be used to clean wastewater, when properly designed.