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Historically, wetlands have been thought of as useless wastelands. In movies and on television, swamps are dirty, murky places full of hidden danger. Through many years of "progress" we have turned over half our wetlands into land fill. All along we thought we were doing good; however, we were wrong. Wetlands are far more important than we could have believed. Many people are not aware of the importance of wetlands in their community, state, country, or world. This must be changed. In order for people to become more aware of the importance of wetlands, we must educate them. By educating others, they will become more knowledgeable about wetlands; the hidden and obvious details.

Through a recent survey, conducted by students at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, 45 percent of the respondents thought by identifying important wetlands that are in need of protection. wetlands will stop disappearing. 2 How could this be an effective solution to protecting wetlands? There is no way this solution could be effective because every wetland is important. In the United States alone, wetlands have been disappearing at a rate of 300,000 acres annually. If only the important wetlands were identified, there would be even less wetlands. The United States and the people of the United States need all of the wetlands there are in order to be healthy individuals.

To make things more clear, a wetland is a low area where the land is saturated with water. Wetlands typically occur in low-Iying areas that receive fresh water at the edges of lake, ponds, streams, and rivers. On every continent, except Antarctica, and in climates ranging from the tropics to the tundra, there are wetlands. They occupy approximately six percent of the land surface of the world. Wetlands are a very important ecosystem for many reasons.

First of all, wetlands are important in Door County because they help prevent flooding by holding water much like a sponge. The wetlands store water and slowly release it to downstream areas after the flood peak. By doing so, wetlands help keep river levels to a normal level. Wetlands also filter and purify the surface water. When wetlands reduce wave action and slow down the flow of water, erosion is lessened and sediments are forced to settle out of the water. This improves the water quality along with the removal of nutrients and contaminants from the water by growing plants and by chemical processes in wetland sediments.

Another reason why wetlands are important is because they directly improve other ecosystems. Because of its cleansing benefits, wetlands have been compared to kidneys. For example, wetlands and kidneys both help control water flow and clean the system.

Wetlands are also important in Door County because they provide habitat for many different plants and animals. For example reptiles, such as turtles, snakes and alligators, are common in wetlands. Many amphibians, such as frogs, salamanders, and toads, live in wetlands at least part of their lives. A large number of fish require a wetland habitat for reproduction, feeding, or protection. Birds are attracted to wetlands because of the large amount of food and nesting sites. Wetlands are also homes for many small and large emergent plants. These plants are firmly rooted in the bottom of wetlands and rise above the surface. Many of these plants soak up tremendous amounts of excess water to help prevent flooding.

Another reason wetlands are important is because they provide many opportunities for recreational activities and educational opportunities for nature studies and scientific research. For example, wetlands provide many people with the pleasure of bird watching, hunting, fishing, trapping, and hiking. Wetlands also provide many people with the opportunity to study the plants and animals found in the wetlands.

Finally, wetlands are important in Door County because they are truly unique. Wetlands are vital to the health of all other biomes, wildlife, and humans everywhere. Without wetlands, endangered and threatened species are lost, along with the habitat for many other wildlife species. Also, without wetlands, water quality protection, protection from flooding, and recreational opportunities are lost.

Wetlands are the vital link between land and water that can be found throughout the world. Many people are not aware of the importance of wetlands and continue to ignore them. Wetlands are dramatically disappearing and will continue to disappear at a fast rate because of the knowledge and concern many people throughout the world lack. In order to stop the disappearance of wetlands, we must educate as many people as we can. We have to save wetlands to make our community, state, country, and world a better place.

 

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