An earlier era around Humboldt Bay and the lower Eel River valley saw low-lying wetlands and salt marshes largely drained and converted to agricultural use. Under the congressional Swamp and Overflow Lands Act of 1849, Euro-American settlers were encouraged to turn wetlands into pasture and croplands. Locally, these converted lands were used to graze dairy and beef cattle and to grow hay, potatoes, barley, peas, and apples, and by 1916 the conversion had proceeded piece by piece. In more recent times, as the value of wetlands to fish, wildlife, water quality, and recreation became better understood, some of these converted areas have been restored to conditions as natural as possible.