Upper

Susquehanna

Coalition

A Synopsis of Wetland Values

and Functions

www.u-s-c.org 2011

Why Wetlands? Capture runoff to desynchronize flood peaks -

resulting in less flooding

Decrease stream flows to reduce energy of flowing water - less erosion

Remove sediment and impurities from surface water - improving water quality

Provide wildlife habitat – add diversity and more recreational opportunities

Wetland Functions

Over the past

30 years

flooding has

cost the US an

average of $

7.82 billion/yr.

with 94

deaths

averaged per

year1

Flood Attenuation

1http://www.nws.noaa.gov/hic/ - 2012

Wetland Functions

The 10% Solution

1.00

RELATIVE 0.80

0.60

FLOODFLOW

0.40

0.20

0.00 10 20 30 40

PERCENT WETLANDS

The effects of wetlands on flood flows

Novitski, R.P: Hydrologic characteristics of Wisconsin's wetlands and their influence on floods, stream flow, and sediment. American Water Resources Association, 1978.

Wetland Functions

Wetland buffering barn runoff from Unadilla River- this small wetland basically eliminated the nutrient runoff into the river

Wetland Functions

Nearly half of all endangered and

threatened species in the United

States depend on wetlands for

some portion of their life-cycle.

Even small shallow wetlands are important

Wetlands don’t need to

be very wet to function

Potential Wetland Impacts

Dredging, filling, and draining

Dumping

Wetland Impacts

Filling wetlands reduces water holding capacity of the

watershed when it rains

Wetland Impacts

Potential Wetland Protection Strategies On the scale of least to most involvement:

Watershed stewardship Wetland education

Promote wetland creation and restoration (with efforts to avoid existing wetlands)

Land conservation/ protection Land Trust Easements

Easements by the town

Wetland stewardship program in which landowners register existing wetlands and agree to protect those wetlands from impacts with possible compensation being tax breaks

Wetland consideration in site design and review of permit applications

Consideration during stormwater permits as well as Subdivision planning, mobile home, and timber harvesting

Have wetland boundaries delineated on all maps for applications

Wetland Ordinance

Wetland Strategies

Wetlands can be constructed or restored to add more capacity to a watershed

By building a low berm (at left of the wetland) a nice pool was

formed that adds flood capacity, wildlife values, water quality

improvements and visual aesthetics

Wetlands perched higher in the watershed are “out of the way” and provide

exceptional value for capturing rainfall before it enters streams

Other

Related Issues

A comprehensive approach to watershed functions is

always the best approach. The following slides provide

some examples

Major rainfall events can cause severe erosion due to the

combination of topography and poor planning

Road Ditch in Meads Creek Watershed after a 5 inch rainfall

Erosion

An example of poor road maintenance that will lead to

more erosion

Before After

One way to

stabilize road

ditch is

hydroseeding

over a fabric

barrier

Erosion Prevention

Streambank Erosion –An ongoing issue: contact USC for

copies of the stream guide

Erosion

Flooding in the Catatonk Watershed, 1996

Flooding

How to reduce

the effects of

too much rain

• Spread it out

• Slow it down

• Soak it in

“Cows in the creek”

Add nutrients and

destabilize stream

banks

Water Quality

Logging, if done improperly can affect

streams and add to water runoff. This is a

poorly placed culvert in a logging road

Water Quality

Outreach and education are important to aid in

understanding the importance of wetlands

Additional

Resources

US Fish and Wildlife Partners for Wildlife:

www.fws.gov/partners

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetland Reserve Program:

www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov/program/wrp

Upper Susquehanna Coalition Wetland Program:

www.u-s-c.org/wetlandprogram