Wetlands Mitigation

Wetlands are defined as “those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at 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. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas.”

Since wetlands lie at the interface of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, they possess a unique mixture of species, conditions, and interactions. As a result, wetlands are among our planet’s most diverse and varied habitats.

Wetlands are habitat for thousands of migrating ducks and geese as well as other fish, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Wetlands also filter water by slowing down water and removing many of the pollutants before they get to our larger streams and rivers.

Since 1980 more than half of the 221 million acres of pre-settlement wetlands have been destroyed.