Pocketflora Press, Calumet, Michigan. Available from Pocketflora Press, RR1 Box 206A, Calumet, MI 49913. Wetlands are important transitional ecosystems of our landscape mosaic between aquatic and upland ecosystems. Owing to their unique, but varied, vegetational and plant growth medial features, wetlands provide remarkable and vital functions. They have the capacity to store large volumes of runoff and then gradually release water that recharges ground water aquifers, discharges water into streams, and reduces the adverse effects of flood and drought periods.
Wetlands are natural filters.
They remove sediments from runoff, and they remove heavy metals, excess nutrients, and other toxicants. Therefore, wetlands are critical in maintaining biodiversity across our landscape mosaic.