The groundwater and surface water resources of the Maskerchugg watershed are interconnected. Groundwater can move into surface water and surface water can recharge groundwater. The quality of one affects the quality of the other. Wetlands usually occur between better drained uplands and permanently flooded waterbodies, though they can occur in depressions and on hillsides. The Maskerchugg River system is lined with wetlands throughout, with a few wetlands not directly adjacent to the river system.
Wetlands have many functions and values.
Because of the unique ecology of wetlands, they provide habitat for numerous plant and animal species, including some of which can only survive in wetlands. Wetlands are aesthetically pleasing to many people and provide recreational activities like bird watching, ice-skating, fishing, and canoeing. In general ,water moves through a wetland slower than a river channel, allowing the soil and vegetation to interact with and remove pollutants. It controls how quickly water and contaminants pass through the soil. Sandy soil has large spaces between soil particles that allow water to move rapidly through the soil.