What is a wetland EPA?

Wetlands are areas where water covers soil all or part of the time. Wetlands are important because they protect and improve water quality, provide fish and wildlife habitats, store floodwaters and maintain surface water flow during dry periods.

Does the EPA protect wetlands?

EPA works with a variety of other federal agencies to protect and restore wetlands, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

What classifies a wetland?

Wetlands are areas of permanent or periodic/intermittent inundation, with water that is static or flowing fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6 metres.

Why are wetlands important EPA?

Wetlands and People Far from being useless, disease-ridden places, wetlands provide values that no other ecosystem can. These include natural water quality improvement, flood protection, shoreline erosion control, opportunities for recreation and aesthetic appreciation and natural products for our use at no cost.

What is a federal wetland?

Wetlands of the United States are defined by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Environmental Protection Agency as “those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a …

What is a wetland and why is it important?

Not only do wetland ecosystems support a host of animal and plant life – but they are critically important for the survival humans too, from the mitigation of Climate Change to the protection of human settlements from floods. If we protect wetlands, we also protect our planet and ourselves.

How does the EPA protect wetlands?

The Federal Government protects wetlands directly and indirectly through regulation, by acquisition, or through incentives and disincentives as described in table 6. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act is the primary vehicle for Federal regulation of some of the activities that occur in wetlands.

What protected wetlands?

They include upland swamps, lagoons, billabongs and riverine wetlands. Landowners can protect wetlands on their property through a Conservation Agreement or Wildlife Refuge. These agreements and refuges provide long-term legal protection for wetlands and the plants and animals that live in them.

What makes a wetland a wetland?

To be considered a wetland, the site must have the presence of water, soils indicative of frequent and prolonged flooding, and vegetation suited to handle flooding or saturated soils.

What are 3 reasons wetlands are important?

Wetlands are important because they:

improve water quality.
provide wildlife habitat.
maintain ecosystem productivity.
reduce coastal storm damage.
provide recreational opportunities.
improve the water supply.
provide opportunities for education.

What are the importance of wetlands?

Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment. They protect our shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality. They provide habitat for animals and plants and many contain a wide diversity of life, supporting plants and animals that are found nowhere else.