There are wetlands on the coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico, called coastal wetlands. Here, in the Midwest, some wetlands have open water and cattails, rushes, or other plants like you'd probably imagine. But, some look like prairies, until you step in and water squishes out of the ground and gets your feet wet. Some occur along rivers and streams, and others are miles from the nearest river, stream or lake. Back to top Water Water is the first ingredient of a wetland, but water doesn't have to be present year round.
Some wetlands are wet in the spring and fall and dry during the hot summer months.
These are known as seasonal or temporary wetlands. Just because they're only wet part of the year doesn't make them less important though. Wetlands that are wet most to all of the year are called semi-permanent or permanent wetlands. In the spring wetlands and their surrounding vegetation can also be rest stops for migrating ducks and geese, as well as nesting areas. Permanent wetlands, like seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands, are also home to amphibians, insects, birds, crustaceans, mammals and many kinds of plants.