Wetland Functions

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Restoration Decisions: (and theory)

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Among other things, wetlands are valuable for (Zedler, 2000; National Research Council, 1992):

• providing habitat for aquatic birds and other animals and plants, including numerous threatened and endangered species;
• producing fish and shellfish;
• storing water--which can mitigate the effects of floods and droughts;
• purifying water (via nutrient, sediment, and toxin removal);
• providing area for recreation--including hunting and fishing;
• shoreline erosion control (including protection from storm events);
• groundwater recharge;
• water supply;
• producing timber;
• producing food;
• educational and research ventures (including preservation of historic, archaeological finds);
• and for providing open space and being of aesthetic value.

Different wetlands may be more valuable than others dependent upon such factors as their size and location.