What is a Wetland and What Good is it?
An area is considered a wetland if it has all three of the following: • Wetland Hydrology Water in amounts that saturate or flood the soil for at least seven days during the growing season • Hydric Soils Soil types that have an anaerobic surface layer (characterized by a black or gray color) due to the saturation • Hydrophytic Vegetation Vegetation that is adapted to life in saturated soil Wetlands are great places for nature enthusiasts. Wetland plants and microorganisms can break down and absorb chemicals and bacteria from surface waters. They slow the overland flow of surface water, allowing silt and sediment to drop out of turbid water and reduce flooding and erosion downstream. Wetlands act like natural sponges. They absorb and store water, allowing it to percolate into the ground to recharge valuable groundwater supplies. Over 90% of Ohio’s original wetlands have been destroyed. So, the legal definition is important for the management and enforcement of regulations intended to pr
