The plants then convert the chemicals to usable substances and eventually pass on these nutrients to the animals in the ecosystem. The ability of wetlands to recycle nutrients and to take suspended materials and chemicals out of the water is a critical and unique function. Wetlands Help Control Erosion and Flooding Vegetated wetlands help to hold together banks of lakes, rivers, and the beach rim that are often prone to serious erosion problems. When wetlands are converted and the vegetation is removed or damaged, soil erosion increases. Instead of serving as a sediment trap, wetlands become a sediment source.
Wetlands also help to control flooding.
When water levels are high due to storms and flooding, the heavy, spongy vegetation absorbs the water and slows its flow. The combined action of storing and slowing can lower flood heights and reduce the water's erosive power. Additionally, the slowed water drops soil that builds up, forming higher, more insulated ground where terrestrial grasses and hardwoods can take root, reducing the force of erosion even more. Maintaining wetlands near developed areas may be the least expensive insurance policy homeowners and business owners can purchase to protect their property. Act as Storm Buffers Coastal wetlands adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico serve an extremely important storm surge protection function when tropical storms or hurricanes come ashore.