I'd like to thank you for coming this morning to recognize a valuable and important resource in Tennessee.
Wetlands are a tremendously important resource, especially here in West Tennessee.
We're here today to showcase efforts to protect them in ways that balance the public's need with those needs of private landowners. For a long time the value of wetlands was not well understood. But today, because of careful studies and research, we have a better understanding of the benefits that wetlands provide for us. We now know that wetlands are important for many birds and animals that are native to Tennessee, and for birds that pass through Tennessee in their annual migration. While they store the water they also clean it, allowing pollution and sediment to settle out.