Contact your commercial insurance broker for more information. Wetlands Wetlands are important components of any watershed. Wetlands provide passive water quality treatment benefits to our watershed community, such as trapping sediments, removing nutrients from agricultural runoff, and decomposing solids. Compared to the cost of man-made systems built to do the same work, the benefits provided by wetlands at no cost can be substantial. Wetlands assist in groundwater recharge.
Wetlands also provide habitat for wildlife and plants, many of which are unique to wetlands.
Nearly 60 percent of Montana's threatened and endangered species rely on wetlands to meet all or part of their seasonal needs. As a result, many acres of wetlands have been filled or drained in the course of human activities, which has led to regulation to protect this valuable resource. Certain activities affecting jurisdictional wetlands are regulated by federal, state and local governments. Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act gives the Army Corps of Engineers authority to issue a permit for discharging dredge or fill material into wetlands or for draining wetlands. Most activities involving wetland disturbance require a permit, although some farming, ranching and logging activities less than three acres may be exempt under nationwide permits.