However, according to the wetlands committee members, such a system is not yet possible. Although wetlands are perhaps the most important environmental issue out there, we still don't know that much about them. The uncertainties are many. More important than rating wetlands by their value, say the scientists who drafted the NRC report, is adopting one definition for all types of wetlands, while taking into account obvious regional differences. As scientists, we on the committee think that's silly.
Wetlands are wetlands.
At the same time, Alaska is not the same as Florida. There has to be a regional nature to these things. A regionalization of wetland delineation should be developed on the basis of geology, vegetation, climate and prevailing land use. Mitsch said he hopes the findings and recommendations of the NRC report will be considered in the coming months, as debate begins in the U.S. Senate over reauthorization of the Clean Water Act. It just needs a little fine-tuning.