Wetlands

Wetlands are a vital link in the natural system that supplies the water sustaining all life. They lessen the destructive effects of storms and floods, cleanse water of pollutants, recharge groundwater supplies, provide homes for many kinds of wildlife, and offer beautiful places for people to enjoy being outdoors. Every year, another two percent of the remaining wetlands in the United States, an astonishing 290,000 acres, is lost to agriculture, development, mining, and other purposes. The many kinds of wetlands, including hardwood swamps, freshwater and saltwater marshes, prairie potholes, and bogs, all share the characteristic of having wet or soggy soil for at least part of the year.

Edgemere, Maryland · United States