Willows, alders and button bushes are types of shrubs present in forested wetlands. Approximately 1.5 million acres of wetlands remain in the Bay watershed, less than half of the wetlands that were here during colonial times. Often viewed as wastelands, wetlands were drained or filled for farms, residential developments, commercial buildings, highways and roads. Over the past several decades, our understanding and appreciation of wetlands has increased. Plant diversity, biochemical reactions and hydrology of these habitats make them extremely productive.
Wetlands support large quantities of plant biomass.
The huge amount of visible plant material in wetlands makes up only the above-ground biomass. This creates a tremendous reservoir of nutrients and chemicals bound up in plant tissue and sediments. Many of the Bay's living r esources depend on these wetland habitats for their survival. Tidal wetlands are the wintering homes for great flocks of migratory waterfowl. Other wildlife, including muskrats, beavers, otters, songbirds and wading birds, rely on wetlands for food and cover.