Why Are Coastal Wetlands in Trouble?
Thousands of acres of coastal wetlands have already been lost, and additional acres have been degraded by pollution. The concentration of the U.S. population along the coastal areas is a continuing Since 1990, when Congress passed the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been working with coastal States to acquire, restore, manage or enhance coastal wetlands through a matching grants program. To date, $165 million have been awarded to 25 coastal States and 1 U.S. Territory, and more than 200,000 acres of coastal wetlands have, or will be acquired, protected or restored. source of development pressure. Threats to coastal resources include agricultural and urban run-off, shoreline modification, invasive species, oil spills, residential and commercial development, municipal waste disposal, and over-harvesting of resources.
