Wetlands are permanently or seasonally saturated areas with plants, shrubs, and trees adapted to wet conditions, and they form aquatic ecosystems that provide essential habitat for birds, animals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other life forms. They also store floodwater, recharge groundwater supplies, and function as nature's recycling systems by regulating and purifying water resources. Wetlands vary in size, shape, depth, and other characteristics; common permanent wetlands include marshes, swamps, and bogs, while temporarily flooded swales and fields are seasonal wetlands. Many wildlife species depend entirely on wetland areas for survival, others use them occasionally, and wetlands along streams serve as travel corridors linking habitats. Dead Creek is an example of a permanent, shallow marsh with interspersed vegetation types and open water that provides food, cover, breeding, and resting areas for a multitude of wildlife and offers a wide range of recreational experiences for the public. Although wetlands are among the most productive ecological units, they are relatively scarce in Vermont, where approximately 300,000 acres remain, representing only five percent of the state's surface area, and with almost thirty-five percent of the state's original wetlands already destroyed, recognizing their value and protecting them is very important today.