In North and South Dakota, the prairie region of North America, the landscape is dotted with prairie pothole wetlands. Click on the photographs on each page to view enlargements. Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. Wetlands are dynamic and serve many functions, some of which are not always obvious to the casual observer. Wetlands can store water during floods and slowly release surface water, rain, snowmelt, groundwater and flood waters.
Wetlands can maintain stream flow during dry periods, and replenish groundwater.
Many species of wildlife depend on wetlands for their survival. More than one-third of the United States' threatened and endangered species live only in wetlands, and nearly half use wetlands at some point in their lives. Wetlands are important for their scientific and educational opportunities, and provide open space for photography, nature walks, fishing and hunting. The EPA recognizes that an effective wetland protection program requires citizen involvement. You can familiarize yourself with the permit process established under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act .