UNH T2 Center Permitting for Wetlands Adapted by Stefanie Fishman, Project Assistant Wetland benefits and functions include flood storage, filtration, and wildlife habitat. Flood storage occurs mostly in the spring, when marshes and swamps store water from snow melt and early spring rains.
Wetlands serve as filters which help keep brooks and streams clean.
They support a diversity of habitat types, which in turn support a wide range of wildlife. The loss or destruction of wetlands harms the hunting and fishing industries because many animals depend on the vegetation found in wetlands. Ducks and geese nest in marsh grasses near the water's edge, and young fish hide among lily pads and arrowhead stems. Wetlands vegetation makes up a portion of the diet of deer and moose. When wetlands or surface waters are dredged or filled, or structures are built in or adjacent to them, their functions may be impaired and their benefits diminished.