Lake levels have been going up and down forever. That's a fact and a function of nature. Coastal marshes and swamps are vital areas for migratory ducks and geese, and for fish such as bass, perch and muskellunge. While waters remain low, fish sheltering in wetlands to spawn may be forced to relocate. When lake levels inevitably rise again, the new stock of flooded plants will become fresh habitat.
Wetlands have other benefits.
During high waters, they act as catch basins. In all seasons, they filter fecal bacteria, pesticides and other pollutants that run off in water from inland. Time and a period of high waters will some day push the balance the opposite way. Harris has noted cycles in Green Bay's wetlands for more than 35 years. His records show the last time the bay saw similar extreme water lows was in 1964.