Society views about wetlands have changed considerably since the continent was settled by the colonists, and especially since the mid-20th century when interest in wetland preservation and protection for the functions and values they serve emerged (Dahl & Allord, 1996). In the 1700’s, there were approximately 90 million hectares of wetlands in what is now the conterminous forty-eight states, with a significant proportion of those associated with the nation’s river systems (Dahl, Johnson, & Frayer, 1991). Two hundred years later, over half of this area has been lost or significantly modified by some form of conversion or by alteration of the hydrologic regime (Dahl & Allord, 1996; Hauer & Smith, 1998).
Interest in wetland protection and efforts
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There is a need for comprehensive assessment approaches that evaluate a range of wetland functions (Kusler, 1986). The need is critical as resource agencies begin managing the environment at watershed and basin scales (Hruby, 1999). Only 4% of the wetlands in the U.S. have been monitored for condition and only 10 states provided information on the support of designated uses for 1.8 million acres of wetlands assessed in their 2004 reports (USEPA, 2009b). The small percentage of wetlands being assessed did not go unnoticed by EPA. In 2011, attention was directed to monitor and assess the ecological condition of the nation’s wetlands (USEPA, 2011). The wetland component of the national aquatic resource survey is the national wetland conditional assessment (NWCA). EPA states three goals of the NWCA, 1) Produce a national report of the quality of the nation’s wetlands; 2) Help States and Tribes implement wetland monitoring and assessment programs to guide policy development and project decision making; and 3) advance the science of wetlands monitoring and assessment (USEPA, …show more content…
In 2006, EPA issued “The Elements of a State Wetlands Monitoring and Assessment Program”, and since that time EPA regional divisions have actively worked with states and tribes to advance wetland monitoring and the use of assessment data to better manage wetland resources (USEPA, 2013).
In 2008, EPA developed the core element framework (CEF) approach to guide states and tribes with wetland program development. The CEF was designed so states and tribes could focus wetland management and program goals into one or all of four common objectives. These four common objectives are: 1) Monitoring and assessment; 2) Regulatory activities, including 401 certification; 3) Voluntary restoration and protection; and 4) Water quality standards for wetlands (USEPA,
Wetlands provide fish and wildlife habitat. It supplies food water, along with areas that can be used for nesting or resting. Wetlands also act as a aquifer recharge and discharge area. They are able to recharge groundwater or excess groundwater is able to discharge into the wetland. Wetlands act as flood storage when rainfall and snowmelt leave an excess of water around and no place to go.
Based on research completed by University of Minnesota soil scientists, the state mandates that every wetland should be protected by a 50-foot buffer zone. The City of Lilliput, a rural town located 30 miles north of St. Cloud, Minnesota, increased the buffer zone to150 feet in1990 within their municipality. The rationale behind Lilliput’s increase was because the town is zoned for predominantly rural uses, i.e. farming and cattle ranching. Due to the animal wasted and farmers’ use of pesticides on their crops, the Town Council felt that increasing the buffer around surrounding wetlands would better protect it from these sources of contamination than would the state minimum of 50
By the end of this report you should have a better perception on the geological landscape of Silver Creek Wetland Complex, and further in-depth knowledge on what stewardship responsibilities fall on you and your relationship with the land you use.
-The EPA is all about helping and protecting nature and our selves, they have passed many laws to keep us safe. Some of these laws include: C.A.A., or the Clean Air Act. This is a Federal law they passed to make sure we’re not releasing too much emission into the air, or releasing really bad things. Another law they have passed is the C.W.A., or Clean Water Act, this is also a Federal law, it protects our water systems from getting infested with pollution and toxic chemicals, without this we could lose our fishing
Giving full credit to restricting the Mississippi River as the culprit for loss of wetlands is not accurate. The booming oil and gas exploration of the 1970’s and 1980’s merits a name on the marquee as well. The pipelines and canals used to transport the resources to the outside world placed a great deal of stress on the fragile wetlands. Erosion from the barges in and out of the marshes as well as the salt water allowed into the fresh water, providing a precarious habitat for fresh water species – flora and fauna alike. Plants provide root systems to hold soil in place. Fish and fowl provide an economy for the area. Enter
The wetlands does only help the wildlife and humans it helps from damaging property, Now you think I'm crazy but I'm not ok, now listen, wetland can help us by storm like hurricanes', floods, and many more. Take for example, in New Orleans, Louisiana, has suffered extremely consequence of the hurricane Katrina, one of the most powerful hurricane in the entire untied states history. Scientist believe that hurricane would did less damage if they had more wetlands, but in the 1800's they destroy the wetlands for more land and because the mosquitos that cause the yellow
Human impacts in habitat, pollution, chemicals, etc…; Why should we protect wetlands? How can we protect wetlands?
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the primary agency that works to conserve, protect, and enhance the nation's fish and wildlife by providing sustainable healthy environments for future generations. It is through these three basic principles of ‘conserve, protect and enhance’ the USFWS is able to bring programs that both directly affect the health and well-being of migratory birds, fish and endangered species. In most cases it is through habitat protection that enables the USFWS to carry out these three principles. The Small Wetlands Program (SWP) is one such program that the USFWS utilizes to maintain the health of migratory birds in the United States.
The Neuse River has played a vital role throughout much of the history of North Carolina. In recent decades however the river has seen degradation of its health and ecology via massive amounts of point and non-point source pollution. The result has been numerous events of eutrophication, resulting in the ecological “dead zones” found throughout the river. Notable contributors of this pollution have been industrial plants and agriculture, most notably power plants and hog farms. As a result, federal and state agencies have enacted strict regulations and water quality standards and procedures to monitor the tributaries, estuarine areas, and main stem of the greater Neuse River watershed.
While these events happened in our area more headline news caught the eye of South Dakota citizens. Senator Tom Daschle proposed a bill that had the potential to lead to the development of more wetlands in South Dakota. The bill offered tax credits to farmers who preserved wetlands not enrolled in the Conservation reserve program or wetland reserve program (Olson). With the Winter of 1997-1998 being so short schools, banks, city crews, and churches were able to catch up on their budgets. Schools didn 't have to call off any days, city crews
Teacher and student access to websites, blogs, and Google Classroom will continue to increase communication between parents and the school. Formative assessment tools can also support parent involvement by connecting parents to student data. Learning platforms like Google Classroom will allow learning to move beyond the school walls, allowing teacher/student communication after school, on weekends, and during school breaks
The Louisiana Purchase, was a purchase made between Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte for the middle section of the of modern day U.S. This section was originally owned by the French who sold it to Spain who made an alliance with France and gave it back. France, financially struggling, with british fleets headed towards the border, decided to sell approximately 530,000,000 acres of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million( about 4 cents an acre).
Completing this project helped me to realize that there are an infinite amount of ways to look at different scenarios. Perception is completely controlled by the person perceiving. For example, rain can either mean depression and hopelessness, but it can also symbolizes cleansing and peace. It helped my come to the realization that there is birth in death. I relate to this because of the death of my father, there was the birth of a new me. There was the birth of a new me who is able to sympathize more intimately with others, a new me who has a stronger appreciation for the life I’ve been given. This project has taught me that there will always be love and life amongst death and hatred. This has taught me to look at life and unfortunate situations
I decided to test the ecological status of the wetland by gathering samples from the wetland and testing it for various aspects in the water and the plants that are found within the area.