Riverine wetlands are comprised of floodplains along freshwater rivers and streams. Palustrine wetlands include marshes, bogs, and swamps. The American Alligator is one of many endangered species that depend on wetlands for survival. In North Carolina, alligators reside primarily in the rivers and wetlands in the southeastern region of the state, but can also be found as far north as the Albemarle Sound. Ranging from the small prairie potholes of the northern plain states to the vast swamp-lands of the Florida Everglades, wetlands occur in every region and climate of the United States.
Wetlands play many important roles in protecting our health, safety, property, and economy.
They aid in flood control, acting as sponges to absorb excess rainfall and snowmelt and then releasing them slowly. They improve our water quality by filtering out organic wastes and other pollutants. Coastal wetlands prevent erosion and property damage by functioning as natural buffers against damaging storm waves. And, they are critical to the success of the commercial fishing industry, serving as safe spawning grounds and nurseries for fish and shellfish. Wetlands are also vital to thousands of plant and animal species that depend on this rich habitat for survival.