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Door County is more than just a piece of land that attracts tourists, it's home to numerous species and historic places. People come from all over to visit the state parks, walk in the woods, and just enjoy the being outside in the beautiful landscape. Door County is home to many wetlands, wetlands that are home to many species of animals and part of our pure ground water system. The majority of people who live in Door County rely on well water, all of which comes from the aquifers under those wetlands. It is vitally important that we work hard to preserve these unique places.

Wetlands (marshes, swamps, bogs, or similar areas) are more important than most people tend to believe. Wetlands help regulate water levels within watersheds, improve water quality, reduce flood and storm damages, provide important fish and wildlife habitats, and support hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities (Wetlands Introduction). The wetlands of Door County contribute to the social, economic and environmental heath of our community by helping protect water quality in lakes, streams and wells by filtering pollutants, nutrients and sediments; acting as shoreline buffers to protect against erosion from the waves and currents; reducing flood damage by storing runoff from heavy rain and snow melts; providing essential breeding and migratory habitats for fish and wildlife; supporting diversity of plant and communities, especially native plants; providing beautiful natural spaces and opportunities for recreation and education, which enhances property values, tourism and quality of life (The Nature Conservancy).

Wetlands in Door County occupy 50,990 (approx. 16%) of the county's land area. Door County has been identified as the most biologically diverse county in Wisconsin. The county contains the greatest number of endangered species and the greatest number of endangered organisms per square mile (The Nature Conservancy). Although freshwater wetlands cover only 1% of the earth's surface, they hold more than 40% of the world's species and 12% of all animal species. The entire food chains begin within wetlands. For many animals and plants, wetlands are the only places where they can live. Wetlands provide critical habitat to rare and endangered species. More than 43% of all species that are federally designated as endangered or threatened in the U.S. are wetland dependent for food, shelter, or breeding at some point in their life cycle (Ducks Unlimited).

A recent study estimated that 1 acre of wetland can store over 1.5 million gallons of floodwater. Wetlands associated with rivers and lakes capture and retain water, reducing the duration and severity of foods. Inland wetlands intercept surface flow and slow it down, reducing the potential for floods and minimizing drought. Plants and soils in wetlands play a significant role in purifying water, removing high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, and in some cases, removing toxic chemicals. Some wetland plants have been found to accumulate heavy metals in their tissues at 100,000 times the concentration in the surrounding water. Many wetlands help recharge underground aquifers that store 97% of the world's unfrozen fresh water. Many Americans rely on groundwater for their drinking water, and recharging is important for ensuring a sustainable supply. Groundwater resources are in heavy demand for uses beyond potable water. Currently 17% of the world's cropland is irrigated, sometimes leading to over pumping of groundwater. This makes the groundwater recharging ability of wetlands especially valuable. A 550,000-acre swamp in Florida has been valued at $25 million per year for its role in storing water and recharging the aquifer (Ducks Unlimited).

As you can see wetlands are extremely important in the life of many creatures as well as making a place beautiful. It is important to remember all the reasons why we need wetlands in Door County. Life would be much more difficult and expensive without our wonderful natural wetlands. Door County would just be another place on the map instead of an important habitat to many endangered species and an area of attraction to the tourists. Wetlands need to be protected. Think twice before destroying them.

 

Door County Environmental Council
P O Box 114, Fish Creek WI 54212
Phone: 920-743-6003 | FAX: 920-743-6727
Info@dcec-wi.org