WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WETLANDS DISAPPEAR?
Flooded basements in the spring. Entire downtowns inundated. Millions of pounds of soil washed downstream, destroying farmland, fisheries, and food for wildlife. Whether it’s localized flooding or catastrophes such as the Midwest floods of 1993, the entire United States is at risk from increased flooding due to our destruction of wetlands. The Army Corps of Engineers has studied the causes of flooding, and advocates wetlands protection as the most cost efficient way to prevent flooding. For example, Florida and Louisiana were both hit directly by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Florida suffered ten times the destruction. The difference? Louisiana had retained more of its coastal wetlands. Small-scale wetlands destruction can also have far-reaching effects. As they disappear, so to do their abilities to recharge groundwater, collect sediment, and trap pollutants. In addition, isolated wetlands often serve as crucial habitat for small populations of rare birds, insects, and amphibians. For exa
