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Wetlands - An Irreplaceable Resource Imperiled

What Are Wetlands?

Wetlands are defined in federal laws and regulations as "those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater for a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions." In most areas wetlands are commonly referred to as swamps, marshes, bogs, potholes, vernal pools, bottomland hardwoods, playas and pecosins. As wetlands are the transition zone between water and dry land, the issue has always been, and will continue to be, how and where the line between them is drawn on the ground. Presently all federal agencies have agreed to, when delineating wetlands for regulatory purposes, use the same procedures and will continually work to remove as much uncertainty from the process as possible. It is hoped that New Jersey will adopt and use the same procedures now used by federal agencies.
Why Are Wetlands Important?

Wetlands provide many vital ecological and socioeconomic values and functions. Wetlands improve water quality by removing chemicals and excess nutrients; by recycling nutrients and removing sediment; by functioning in groundwater and surface water supply; and by reducing surface runoff and soil erosion. Wetlands also serve as habitat to fish, shellfish, waterfowl, and other wildlife; and provide opportunities for recreation, scientific study, and aesthetic enjoyment. In New Jersey the decline of many fish populations can be closely tied to the decline and degradation of wetlands and riparian vegetation.

As wetlands are lost upstream, erosion, flooding, and sedimentation of lakes and rivers increases downstream. Furthermore, the decrease in wetlands has affected waterfowl and other wildlife populations dependent on wetlands. Decreasing populations of waterfowl, fish, and shellfish are a few of the impacts caused by wetlands losses.

Wetlands are an integral part of our economy. The U.S. coastal marine fishing industry annually harvests over $10 billion of commercial wetlands-dependent fish and shellfish, including trout, perch, catfish, menhaden, shrimp, oyster, and blue crab. Wetlands save millions in annual flood, erosion, and storm damage by temporarily storing flood waters and slowing water velocities. Damages from these problems already cost the nation $3 to $4 billion annually.

Nationwide, over $10 billion is spent annually by an estimated 50 million people on fishing, hunting, boating, nature study, photography, and swimming. Healthy and functioning wetlands ecosystems are a necessity in maintaining the resource base for this economy.