Wetlands provide a variety of benefits to humans and the environment. They provide habitat for plants and wildlife, clean our water, decrease the impact of severe storms, reduce flooding by absorbing runoff, and provide educational and recreational opportunities. When they are removed from the landscape the services they would normally supply can cost significant amounts of time and money to attempt to replace.
A recent study in our region on the dollar value of wetlands, Valuing New Jersey’s Natural Capital:
An Assessment of the Economic Value of the State’s Natural Resources: Wetlands provided the largest dollar value of ecosystem services: $9.4 billion per year for freshwater wetlands and $1.2 billion per year for saltwater wetlands.
The valuable services provided to us by wetlands are also known as ecosystem services.
Ecosystem services are “the components of nature, directly enjoyed, consumed or used to yield human well-being.” *
Flood conveyance - Wetlands along rivers and their adjacent floodplains help to channel water downstream during flood events. If the natural channel systems are filled or blocked, the water can be diverted into areas not capable of handling the floodwaters. Recent natural disasters, such as the damage done to the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina, speak to the significance of wetlands in protecting coastal areas from the damaging impacts of storms and floods, and to the magnitude of human and economic losses that occur where their services have been lost.
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Houses on edge of marsh |
Barriers to waves and erosion - Wetlands help reduce damage during storm events by absorbing wave energy before it reaches adjacent upland areas. Wetlands protect against erosion due to their extensive vegetative root systems.
The red line in the photo below illustrates the salt marsh shoreline of Rehoboth Bay during the Nor'easter of May 2008. Note the way the wave energy is reduced at the shoreline.
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Wetlands reduce storm damage |
Flood storage - Wetlands act like sponges during floods capturing rain and flood waters. Later, they slowly release the water downstream. A one-acre wetland can 330,000 gallons of water to a depth of one foot! Construction of flood control facilities to replace the flood storage capacity lost by filling wetlands would, in most cases, be cost prohibitive.
Erosion control - When runoff enters a wetland, the flow of the water is slowed by vegetation. Wetlands along the edge of streams, bays, ponds, and other water bodies help to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion from occurring, fortifying the shore while also preventing sediment from reaching downstream. Erosion can lead to the need for costly and potentially environmentally damaging dredging to clear channels and waterways that are choked with sediment generated by runoff that is not buffered by wetland vegetation.
Pollution prevention and control - Because of their amazing water-cleansing capacities, wetlands have been called “the kidneys of our watersheds.” Wetlands also help to reduce pollution downstream by filtering and processing some nutrients, chemicals, and sediment coming from stormwater runoff. Microorganisms in wetland soils in combination with vegetation can utilize dissolved nutrients and break down organic matter. More wetland buffers and upstream wetland complexes equals less pollution downstream. 
Fish and shellfish production - Coastal wetlands are important sources of food, refuge, and nursery grounds for many fish and shellfish species. It is estimated that anywhere from 85-95% of our recreationally and commercially important coastal fisheries rely on tidal wetlands as a place to shelter and grow their young. Salt marshes are some of the most productive systems on earth, out competing modern agriculture. When the plants that grow in these systems breakdown and decompose the detritus (organic materials) they generate are useful as nutrition for the marsh food web. The tiny fragments of plants and organic matter flow through the wetlands and out into the open water to be fed upon by plankton up the chain to commercially important fish such as oysters and striped bass.
Habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife, including rare and endangered species - Both coastal and inland wetlands are unique places existing at the land water interface and they provide habitat for many rare plant and animal species. They serve as nesting, feeding, and nursery grounds for fish, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. The habitats adjacent to wetlands are also very important to diversify the resources available to wildlife and their different life stages.
Recreation - Great numbers of sport and recreational fish species are dependant on wetlands for feeding and spawning. Several popular waterfowl species are also deeply connected to wetlands for feeding, resting, and reproduction. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey in 2006 reported that in Delaware wildlife-associated recreation expenditures reached $299 million. Fishing accounted for $97 million, hunting for $41 million, and wildlife watching for $131 million. These hobbies are greatly dependant on wetland resources and drive an industry to supply the equipment and guide needs of those that enjoy wildlife-related recreation. Enjoy Wetlands!
Water supply - Wetlands contribute to ground water and surface water supplies. Both are sources of drinking water in Delaware. Wetlands help to store and purify surface waters before they are collected downstream. In times of drought, wetlands play a key role in storing and holding water.
Historic, archeological values - Native people on Delmarva relied on both coastal and inland wetlands to provide seasonal food and other resources to survive. Former settlements still persist at some of these resource centers such as Thompson’s Island in the Inland Bays.
Education and research - The biology and ecology of wetland systems are incredible sources of educational topics and materials. The opportunities to share nature with children are invaluable. Increasingly schools are restoring wetlands on their property to use as outdoor classrooms, providing a hands-on environment for learning science, math, language, and art. Some Delaware schools have become involved in creating, restoring or utilizing wetlands in their schoolyards. Environmental Protection Agency's Wetlands and Wonder video - Reconnecting Children with Nearby Nature
Open space and aesthetic values - The diversity and beauty of wetland habitats are unmatched and contribute to human gratification. Exposure to and recreation in nature reduces stress and provides health benefits.
*Boyd, James, and Spencer Banzhaf. 2006. What Are Ecosystem Services? A Need for Standardized Environmental Accounting Units. Washington, DC: Resources for the Future.
