In contrast, palustrine wetlands are freshwater. They are situated on the floodplains bordering rivers and streams, fringing the shorelines of lakes and ponds, filling isolated depressions, and covering broad flat areas at or near sea level. Public support for wetland protection and restoration and concern about wetland destruction have steadily increased in recent years. Consequently, protecting wetlands is one of the goals of the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. Water Quality One of the most important wetland functions is their ability to help restore and maintain water quality in rivers and streams .
Wetlands are capable of removing and retaining nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
If these contaminants were not removed, algal blooms could result. When algae die and decompose, they consume large amounts of oxygen, resulting in massive fish mortality. Wetlands are also capable of minimizing sediment loads and absorbing chemical and organic pollutants before these contaminants can enter the Chesapeake Bay. By temporarily storing flood waters, wetlands help protect adjacent and downstream property owners from flood damage. Wetlands in urban areas are especially valuable for flood protection, since urban development increases the rate and volume of surface water runoff, thereby increasing the risk of flood damage.