WetlandsWetlands

Photo by R. Grippo

IntroductionIntroduction

Currently very hot area in resource managementCurrently very hot area in resource management

Called by many names Called by many names swamps, bogs, fens, swamps, bogs, fens,

marshes, vernal ponds, pocosins (NC)marshes, vernal ponds, pocosins (NC)

Important in ecological restoration because Important in ecological restoration because >50% of natural wetlands have been destroyed>50% of natural wetlands have been destroyed

Ecosystem Services of WetlandsEcosystem Services of Wetlands

1.1. Sponge effect - decrease flood peak and Sponge effect - decrease flood peak and increase flow during drought increase flow during drought

Flooding in the mid-South, Nov., 2001

Farmland flooding

Ecosystem Services of WetlandsEcosystem Services of Wetlands

1.1. Sponge effect - decrease flood peak and Sponge effect - decrease flood peak and increase flow during drought increase flow during drought

2. Groundwater cleansing – wetlands 2. Groundwater cleansing – wetlands metabolize water metabolize water increase water increase water quality (biological filters)quality (biological filters)

Ecosystem Services of WetlandsEcosystem Services of Wetlands

1.1. Sponge effect - decrease flood peak and Sponge effect - decrease flood peak and increase flow during drought increase flow during drought

2.2. Groundwater cleansing – wetlands Groundwater cleansing – wetlands metabolize water metabolize water increase water increase water quality (biological filters)quality (biological filters)

3.3. Decreased shoreline erosion – plants Decreased shoreline erosion – plants stabilize banksstabilize banks

Lacustrine wetlands in Pine Barrens, southern NJ

Photo by R. Grippo

Coastal mangrove swamp, Belize, Central America

Photo of R. Grippo and Penn State student

Ecosystem Services of WetlandsEcosystem Services of Wetlands

1.1. Sponge effect - decrease flood peak and Sponge effect - decrease flood peak and increase flow during drought increase flow during drought

2.2. Groundwater cleansing – wetlands metabolize Groundwater cleansing – wetlands metabolize water water increase water quality (biological increase water quality (biological filters)filters)

3.3. Decreased shoreline erosion – plants stabilize Decreased shoreline erosion – plants stabilize banksbanks

4.4. High in primary productivity (2High in primary productivity (2ndnd only to tropical only to tropical rainforest) = reduce greenhouse effectrainforest) = reduce greenhouse effect

History of Wetland DestructionHistory of Wetland Destruction

Towns usually built on stream corridorsTowns usually built on stream corridors Tradition Tradition drain swamps (malaria, etc) drain swamps (malaria, etc) Agriculture Agriculture 87% of losses to increase 87% of losses to increase

tillable landtillable land Unequal distribution of lossesUnequal distribution of losses

CoastsCoasts Northern tierNorthern tier Southern coastal plainSouthern coastal plain Major river basinsMajor river basins

History of Wetland DestructionHistory of Wetland Destruction Towns usually built on stream corridorsTowns usually built on stream corridors Tradition Tradition drain swamps (malaria, etc) drain swamps (malaria, etc) Agriculture Agriculture 87% of losses to increase tillable land 87% of losses to increase tillable land Unequal distribution of lossesUnequal distribution of losses

CoastsCoasts Northern tierNorthern tier Southern coastal plainSouthern coastal plain Major river basinsMajor river basins

1955 1955 1975 loss of of 550,000 acres of wetlands/year 1975 loss of of 550,000 acres of wetlands/year CWA CWA passed to prevent further loss passed to prevent further loss still lost 92,500 acres/yr up to 1985 still lost 92,500 acres/yr up to 1985 reauthorize CWA , tighten laws much more reauthorize CWA , tighten laws much more still a big problem still a big problem (saw on last weeks field trip)(saw on last weeks field trip)

State with most wetlands = Alaska (only lost 1% so far)State with most wetlands = Alaska (only lost 1% so far)

Note: wetlands are the 1Note: wetlands are the 1º target of restoration efforts because 50-90% º target of restoration efforts because 50-90% of historical wetlands are goneof historical wetlands are gone

RegulationRegulation

1.1. Section 404 of Clean Water Act - “No Section 404 of Clean Water Act - “No dredged or fill material can be placed into dredged or fill material can be placed into any waterway of the US (including any waterway of the US (including wetlands) wetlands)

Note: does Note: does notnot prevent draining, clearing or prevent draining, clearing or polluting wetlands (but hard to get polluting wetlands (but hard to get permission to do)permission to do)

Section 404 (con’t)Section 404 (con’t)

Gives implicit authority to EPA, and Army Corps Gives implicit authority to EPA, and Army Corps of Engineers to manage wetlandsof Engineers to manage wetlands

Note: COE not allowed to delineate, only verifyNote: COE not allowed to delineate, only verify Section 404 permits - need before dredge/fillSection 404 permits - need before dredge/fill

Note: these are rarely denied, process just made Note: these are rarely denied, process just made so difficult that permit is usually withdrawnso difficult that permit is usually withdrawn

US FWS and NRCS (National Resource US FWS and NRCS (National Resource Conservation Service) place classification on soil Conservation Service) place classification on soil that determines whether there is a wetlands or that determines whether there is a wetlands or not.not.

Wetland Conservation provision of the Food Wetland Conservation provision of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Swampbuster)Security Act of 1985 (Swampbuster)

designed to discourage the conversion of designed to discourage the conversion of wetlands into non-wetland areas wetlands into non-wetland areas

Previously, farmers allowed to use Previously, farmers allowed to use converted (filled) wetlands as part of converted (filled) wetlands as part of acreage for determining subsidy (USDA acreage for determining subsidy (USDA encouraged loss of wetlands!)encouraged loss of wetlands!)

Swampbuster - USDA now withholds Swampbuster - USDA now withholds certain subsidies if convert wetland certain subsidies if convert wetland

Wetlands converted into agricultural land

Definition of WetlandsDefinition of Wetlands

PalustrinePalustrine - swamp-like, no deep open - swamp-like, no deep open waterwater

LacustrineLacustrine - associated with deep water - associated with deep water lake, pondlake, pond

RiverineRiverine - associated with stream, river - associated with stream, river

Lacustrine wetlands

Riverine wetlands near State College, PA

Photo by R. Grippo

Palustrine wetlands, Merchants Millpond, NC

Photo by R. Grippo

Florida Everglades

Photo by R. Grippo

Everglades along coast of Florida Bay

Photo by R. Grippo