In the past, wetlands were mostly considered to be wastelands. As the United States was settled and people moved west, swamps and marshes were obstructions along the way. Many were drained to be replaced by farmland, railroads and road construction. In recent decades many people have come to recognize the values of wetlands. No longer the forgotten stepchild of our environment, some scientists call them natures kidneys because of the natural cleansing functions they perform.
Wetlands act like giant, shallow bowls.
Water collects in these bowls and slows down as it spreads out. Putting a Value on Function Traditional methods of system evaluation tend to reduce most values to monetary terms. Conventional economic theories assume that the benefit of a 'commodity' is the dollar amount people are willing to pay for a good or service, rather than be without it. Wetlands and Flooding As winter melts into spring, communities across America have been hit hard with floods, exacting a heavy toll in property damage and loss of life. By soaking up and storing excess water and slowly releasing it over time, wetlands help control flooding.