[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]














                                                                   Pu@fication #-92-105
































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	                                        Washington's Wetlands

                                              Produced by the Washington
                                                          
                                              State Department of Ecology                                                            d

                                              Publication.#92-105:


                                                                
                                              This document is a revision of the 
                                              1988 publication,, Washington's
                                              Wetlands (publication 1988-24).
                                              To order additional copies, contact:
                                              Publications Office
                                              Department of Ecology-
                                              P.O. Box 47600
                                              Olympia, Washington 98504-7600


                                              Written and desighed by Nikki McClure,

                                              Photographs by:  Stee Morrison. page 3
                                                               Ken Pritchard,  Adopt a Beach, page 10

                                              This  publication was funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the National
                                              Oceanic, and Atmospheric Administration. The views expressed herein are those of the
                                              author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA -or any of its subagencies.
                                              Printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks.




                        Where are Washington's Wetlands?
                        Where wetlands are located and what they look like

                                                               Look around. More likely than
                                                               not, there is a wetlaAd near
                                                               where you live, work, or play.
                                                               Wetlands are found throughout
                                                               the state in all shapes and sizes,
                                                               next to bodies of water or iso-
                                                               lated. Wetlands can be freshwa-
                                                               ter or saltwater. They are found
                                                               in wilderness, rural, and urban
                                                               areas. They vary from pristine
                                                               and relatively untouched to
                                                               severely degraded. In all, wet-
                                                               lands cover approximately
                                                               938,000 acres in Washington, or
                                                               only 2 percent of the land in the
                                                               state.














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                                  What are Wetlands?
                                  Wetlands determined by three characteristics


                                  A wetland can be the edge of a
                                  river or a lake; a shallow pond              Wetland Characteristics
                                  or swamp; a marshy field or                  1. Soils- hydric soils are soils that
                                  forested bog; or a shrubby area              are saturated long enough to
                                  filled with willows. Despite                 produce low oxygen conditions.
                                  the variety of wetlands, they                2. Plants- hydrophytic plants can
                                  have three characteristics in                tolerate low oxygen levels of hydric
                                  common: hydric soils, water-                 soils.
                                  tolerant plants, and the pres-
                                  ence of water for a significant              3. Water- present for a significant
                                  number of days during the                    number of days during the growing
                                  growing season.                            I season.








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                           Wetlands not only vary in           Despite the lack of water
                           size, type, and location, they    during the summer, the field
                           also vary individually. Some      can still be classified as a
                           wetlands dry out during the       wetland by analyzing the soil
                           summer and flood in winter.       and vegetation. The presence
                             The two pictures above are      of water is only one factor that
                           of the same wetland. The top      determines if an area is a
                           photo was taken in November       wetland.
                           and the bottom photo was
                           taken in September.




                             .Wetland Functions and Values
                             Flood protection, water quality, and streamflow


                             Each wetland performs specific          Flood Reduction and
                             functions in its individual             Protection
                             watershed and has localized             Wetlands lower flood peaks by
                             significance in its community.
                             These functions may include             holding back water during
                             flood protection and control,           storms and spring snowmelt.
                             water quality and supply,               The maze of plant roots and
                             shoreline stabilization, fish and       soil in wetlands can slow the
                                                                     velocity of a flood thus i i
                             wildlife habitat, and aesthetic                                   glvmg
                             values. Not every wetland               the land time to absorb the
                             performs all of the functions           excess water. Wetlands do not
                             listed above. However, even if          always have to be wet; they
                             a wetland only performs one             can dry out, ready to soak up
                             function, that wetland may be           the next deluge of water like a
                             a vital link in its watershed.          sponge, protecting down-
                                                                     stream areas from excess
                                                                     runoff. In watersheds where
                                                                     wetlands have been lost, flood
                                                                     peaks may increase by as much
                                                                     as 80 percent.

                              Water Quality and Supply
                              Sediments and nutrients in stream             Sediment trapped by
                                                                            vegetation
                                                                                   Nutrients absorbed






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                              Water Quality                          Streamflow
                              Wetlands improve water                 Maintenance and
                              quality by trapping nutrients,         Groundwater Recharge
                              sediment, and pollutants.              Wetlands maintain
                              Excess nutrients are taken up          strearnflows, by gradually
                              by wetland plants and animals          releasing stored water after
                              and are subsequently used or           floods and wet seasons.
                              converted into less harmful            Streamflows and cool water
                              chemical forms. Nutrient over-         temperatures are sustained,
                              loaded water can cause "algal          protecting fish habitat that
                              blooms" resulting in low levels        might otherwise dry out.
                              of oxygen that can kill fish and          Wetlands also recharge
                              other aquatic life.                    groundwater that can later be
                                 As water is slowed by               pumped to the surface, provid-
                              wetlands, sediment normally            ing water for drinking and
                              carried by faster moving water         irrigation. Water collecting in
                              settles. Pollutants attached to        a wetland is slowed as it seeps
                              the sediment, such as heavy            through the roots and mud,
                              metals, settle as well and are         filtering eventually down into
                              then secured in the soil. How-         the groundwater. Sediment
                              ever, the pollution is only            and toxins are trapped be-
                              temporarily removed from the           tween soil particles; while
                              water. Once the plants die or          water trickles down and is
                              the mud is disturbed, some             purified by the natural filter of
                              pollution is able to enter the         wetlands. Wetlands' filtering
                              water again. Wetlands can              and storing of water is an
                              only do so much to clean               important element in the
                              water. We have to do our part          hydrologic cycle and may
                              to prevent pollution from              greatly enhance a watershed's
                              entering the water that we             ability to withstand periods of
                              drink and that other animals           drought.
                              live in.




                               Wetland Functions and Values
                               Shoreline stabilization, fish and wildlife habitat, and aec,-.


                               Shoreline Stabilization                 Fish and Wildlife Habitat
                               Wetlands stabilize shorelines           Wetland habitat is vital to 212
                               by diffusing the erosive forces         animal species in Western
                               of waves and current. Wetland           Washington and 285 species in
                               plants bind the soil with their         the eastern region of the state.
                               intricate roots, creating a             Many more mammals, fish,
                               natural buffer that absorbs the         birds, amphibians, reptiles,
                               waves' force. Bulkheads and             and insects use wetlands for
                               banks send the corrosive                breeding, foraging, or protec-
                               waves further downstream or             tion. Some animals like bea-
                               downshore to erode neighbor-            vers spend their entire lives in
                               ing shorelines. Shoreline               one wetland; while others such
                               wetlands also provide one last          as shorebirds and salmon use
                               chance to filter out toxins and         wetlands during their migra-
                               pollution from runoff before            tions.
                               the water enters the lake, river,
                               estuary, or ocean.



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                       thetic value


                                Many freshwater and                  Aesthetic
                             saltwater fish are dependent            The value of wetlands for
                             upon wetlands at some stage             aesthetic contributions is a
                             in their life cycle. Some fish          personal matter. For some,
                             spawn in wetlands and juve-             wetlands will never be beauti-
                             nile marine fish hide in the            ful. To others, wetlands pro-
                             shallow waters of coastal               vide a quiet place to hear the
                             marshes to avoid predators.             song of birds. Go explore a
                             Coastal wetlands also provide           wetland and discover what
                             a nutrient-rich and protective          value wetlands have to you.
                             nursery for shellfish and other
                             marine organisms.











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                            What is the Problem?
                            Wetlands continue to be lost or degraded

                            As our understanding of                 How and Why
                            wetland ecology increases, we
                            are becoming more aware of              Wetlands Are Lost
                            the important roles wetlands            'Wetlands are often filled or
                            play in watersheds. Yet,                drained in order to make land
                            despite the many irreplaceable          developable. Wetland losses
                            and invaluable functions that           are due to urban development
                            wetlands perform, wetlands              in the form of industry, port
                            continue to be lost. It is esti-        dredging, and highway con-
                            mated that 33-50 percent of             struction; agricultural activities
                            Washington's wetlands have              such .as clearing, diking, and
                            been lost since colonization,           grazing; and forestry practices.
                            with some metropolitan areas            Wetlands are also adversely
                            in Puget Sound losing over 90           affected by the destruction of
                            percent of their wetlands.              beaver dams, non-native plant
                                                                    species invasion, and by
                                                                    fertilizer and pesticide use in
                                                                    and around them.
                                                                       Many wetlands that have
                                                                    not been drained or filled are
                                A&A*                                affected by adjacent use.
                                                                    Parking lots and roads next to
                                                                    a wetland send oil-laden
                                                                    runoff into the cattails leaving
                                                                    the asphalt clean and the
                                                                    wetland degraded. Animals
                                                                    living in wetlands need a
                                                                    buffer from buildings, pets,
                                                                    cars and people. Without a
                                                                    sufficient amount of privacy
                                              '51@,
                                                                    and quiet, the animals cannot
                                                                    live.















                                 All of the activities noted
                              directly affect the ability of
                              wetlands to perform their
                              necessary functions. Any
                              activity that alters the course or
                              quality of water feeding into a
                              wetland, may affect the water-
                              shed and the community as a
                              whole. Diverting water by
                                                                                         '7
                                                                                          7'%*@177   lkw
                              draining, diking, or filling
                              disrupts the hydrological cycle
                              of the watershed and may
                              cause flooding. Draining may
                              affect water'quality and
                              streamflows as water is unable
                              to collect in pools and filter
                              through the wetland. Im-
                              proper livestock watering and          Laws Regulating
                              grazing in or near a wetland           Wetland Use
                              can cause trampled vegetation          There is no comprehensive
                              and eroded banks. Sediment is          state wetlands law in Washing-
                              sent into the wetland, while at        ton. There are, however,
                              the same time the wetland's            several state, federal, and local
                              ability to remove the sediment         laws which regulate certain
                              by way of plant roots is de-           activities in some wetlands.
                              creased. It is best to provide a       Contact your local planning
                              buffer area around wetlands            office before conducting any
                              and to leave wetlands in their         activities that might affect
                              natural state.                         wetlands. For more informa-
                                                                     tion on regulations concerning
                                                                     wetlands, refer to Wetland
                                                                     Regulations Guidebook (publica-
                                                                     tion #88-5) available free of
                                                                     charge from the Department of
                                                                     Ecology.





                             What You Can Do
                             Wetland protection, enhancement and preservation


                             The protection of wetlands              Landowners with
                             depends on public involve-              wetlands on their
                             ment and cooperation. There             property
                             are many ways to get involved.
                             The first step is to educate            Protect your wetland.
                             yourself about wetland ecol-            Avoid dumping, draining, or
                             ogy and issues concerning               filling near your wetland.
                             wetland loss and protection,            Even yard waste may ad-
                             then act with an informed               versely affect your wetland.
                             vision. Suggested resources
                             and ideas for involvement are
                             listed.                                 Respect wetland animals' need
                                                                     for a buffer zone and for
                                                                     privacy. Mark or fence off a
                                                                     buffer area around your
                                                                     wetland.


                                                                     Enhance your wetland.
                                                                     Small-scale enhancement
                                                                     projects are explained in
                                                                     Ecology's publication, At
                                                                     Home With Wetlands: A
                                                                     Landowner's Guide (publication
                                                                     #90-31).
                                         A"

                                                                     Preserve your wetland.
                                                                     Ecology's Wetlands Preserva-
                                                                     tion: An Information and Action
                                                                     Guide (publication #90-5)
                                                                     offers wetland preservation
                                                                     options and describes numer-
                                                                     ous nonprofit organizations
                                                                     and land trusts that can help
                                                                     you preserve your wetland.












                              Citizens                             Kids
                              Respect wetland buffers and          Ask your teacher to teach
                              minimize your impact upon            about wetlands.
                              wetlands when you visit them.
                                                                   Write to decision makers and
                              Visit local wetlands and be on       invite them to your school to
                              the lookout for any signs of         talk about what they do and
                              degradation. Wetland Walks           how it affects wetlands.
                              (publication #89-30) lists                                I
                              public access wetlands by            Tell others about wetlands and
                              county. A wetlands inventory         organize a wetlands clean-up
                              has been completed for the           party.
                              state as part of the National
                              Wetlands Inventory. In some
                              cities and counties detailed         Teachers
                              local wetland maps are also          Learn about wetlands by
                              available.                           attending wetland or environ-
                              Familiarize yourself with local      mental education workshops.
                              wetland ordinances. If none          Bring wetlands into your
                              exist for your community,            school by organizing a Wet-
                              encourage adoption of a              lands Week.
                              wetland ordinance.
                              Ask candidates for public            Wetlands curriculum, work-
                              office their policy concerning       shops, publications and other
                              wetlands and then make an            resources for teachers are
                              informed vote.                       available from Ecology's
                                                                   Wetlands Section. Write or
                              Support local organizations          call (206) 438-7538 or (206) 459-
                              working to preserve wetlands         6774 for more information.
                              such as land trusts.





                             Wetlands Educational Materials
                             Wetland publications and videos


                             The following educational             Videos
                             materials are available free of       Fabulous Wetlands, VHS, 7
                             charge from the Washington            minutes
                             State Department of Ecology:          A wacky and entertaining'
                                                                   video featuring Bill Nye "the
                             Publications                          Science Guy" talking about the
                             At Home With Wetlands: A              importance of wetlands.
                             Landowner's Guide (#90-31)
                             Describes ways landowners             Washington's Wetlands, VHS, 15
                             can protect or enhance wet-           minutes
                             lands on their property.              A video of still images that
                                                                   provides an overview of fresh
                             Wetland Preservation: An Infor-       and saltwater wetlands in
                             mation and Action Guide (#90-5)       Washington.
                             Outlines methods private
                             citizens, nonprofit organiza-         Yellowlegs, Eelgrass, and
                             tions, and public agencies can        Tideflats, VHS, 25 minutes
                             use to protect wetlands.              A beautiful film on
                                                                   Washington's estuaries empha-
                             Wetland Regulation Guidebook          sizing the variety of wildlife
                             (#88-5)                               common to these areas.
                             A clear and concise overview
                             of the regulations affecting
                             wetlands.                             To obtain wetland publications
                                                                   and loan videos, contact:
                             Wetland Walks (#89-30)
                             A guide to publicly accessible        Publications Office
                             wetlands in Washington State.         Washington State
                                                                   Department of Ecology
                             Wetlands (#92-49)                     P.O. Box 47600
                             A children's guide to wetland         Olympia, WA 98504-7600
                             plants and animals.
                                                                   Please include the publication
                                                                   number, title, and quantity needed
                                                                   with each request.





































































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