Wetlands Conservation

A wetland is defined as a lowland area saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support hydrophytic (water loving) vegetation. There are many different types of wetlands such as peat bogs, fens, wet prairies or meadows, marshes, swamps, floodplain forests, and vernal pools.

All wetlands have 2 of these:

  1. hydrology (the presence of water either above the soil surface or within the soil, near the surface)
  2. hydric soils (soils where oxygen is or was limited by the presence of water for long periods of time)
  3. hydrophytic vegetation (plant species that require saturated soils to survive and tolerate prolonged wet soil conditions)

Medina SWCD supports protecting wetlands.

The Importance of Wetlands:

  • Wetlands store excess water and replenish ground water.
  • Thick vegetation slows down floodwaters, reducing downstream flooding.
  • Wetlands act as “nature’s kidneys,” filtering sediments and nutrients from surface water.
  • They provide a variety of products for human use and offer many opportunities for recreation.
  • They are specialized habitat that serve wildlife  through many stages of life. 

Types of wetlands projects:  

  • Restoration involves rehabilitating converted wetlands
  • Enhancement improves a slightly degraded wetland or manages an existing wetland to serve a special function.
  • Creation is the establishment of a wetland in a historically upland area.
  • Construction is the building of a wetland to treat nonpoint and point sources of water pollution.

Medina SWCD Wetland Services:

  • Help homeowners identify wetlands
  • Provide information on if soil types indicate the presence of wetlands before beginning construction
  • Direct people to the ArmyCorps of Engineers to avoid fines and the destruction of wetlands
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