In 1997, local government units made 1,000 exemption determinations upon request by landowners. These exemptions resulted in at least 1,022 acres of wetlands drained or filled. Non-agricultural wetland impacts approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for farm program participants. Unreported violations of all programs. As difficult as it is to estimate wetland gains and losses on an acreage basis, it is even more difficult to measure the functional gains and losses resulting from wetland projects.
Wetlands are important because of how they function in the hydrologic and ecological systems.
However, quantitative information on wetland functions, while even more relevant than total acreage, is not available.