Abstract |
Watersheds are significantly influenced by their wetlands. The capacity of wetlands to attenuate floods, absorb pollutants, recharge groundwater, provide wildlife habitat, and protect erodible shorelines are important watershed functions. Despite performing these critical functions, wetlands are seldom integrated into local watershed plans. Instead, wetland managers regulate individual wetlands on a site-by-site basis. This approach fails to consider cumulative wetland functions, and is often segregated along regulatory and jurisdictional lines. At the same time, communities are realizing they can only solve their water resource problems by using a watershed approach. Wetland managers may find it useful to evolve towards a watershed approach as well. |