Chapter 3 Wetland Values and the Importance of Wetlands to Man Contents Page Chapter Summary . 37 Attitudes Toward Wetlands . 37 Intrinsic Values of Wetlands . 39 Wetlands as Natural Areas . 39 Wetlands for Recreation and Education . 41 Other Intrinsic Values.. 42 Ecological Services or Resource Values of Wetlands . 43 Floodpeak Reduction. 43 Shoreline Erosion Control . 46 Ground Water Recharge. 47 Water Quality Improvement . 48 Fish and Wildlife Values. 52 Climatic and Atmospheric Functions . 60 Chapter preferences . 61 TABLES Table No. Page 4. Summary of Input-Output Studies . 51 5. Selected Commercial or Sport Fish and Shellfish Utilizing Coastal Marshes as Nurseries . 56 6. Endangered Wetland Species on the Federal Endangered and Threatened Species List . 57 7. Game and Fur Animals Identified by State Game Managers as Found in Wetlands . 58 8. The 10 Most Recreationally Important Marine Fish in the United States in 1979 Ranked by Number of Fish Landed . 58 9. The 15 Most Important Fish and Shellfish Harvested by U.S. Fisheries in 1980 . 59 10. Wetland Plant Productivity . 59 FIGURES Figure No. Page 4. Relationship Between Wetland Processes and Values . 44 5. General Pattern of Duck Distribution in North America . 53 Chapter 3 Wetland Values and the Importance of Wetlands to Man CHAPTER SUMMARY Some people value wetlands for their intrinsic wetland to another and from one region of the coun- qualities. They may wish to protect wetlands simply try to another. Some wetlands provide benefits that out of a desire to preserve natural areas for future primarily are local or regional in nature; other ben- generations or because they are often the last areas efits may be national or even international in scope. to be developed. Others value the varied and abun- Because of the wide variation among individual dant flora and fauna that may be found in wetlands, wetlands, the significance of their ecological serv- and the opportunities for hunting, fishing, and ices and intrinsic values must be determined on an boating and other recreational activities. While individual or regional basis. these recreational benefits can be quantified to some The dollar value of the ecological services that extent, the other intrinsic values of wetlands are, wetlands provide sometimes can be quantified. The for the most part, intangible. For this reason, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for instance, esti- justification for protecting wetlands has often fo- mated that the loss of the entire 8,422 acres of wet- cused on the importance of the ecologicalservices lands within the Charles River Basin, Mass., would or resource values that wetlands provide, which are produce average annual flood damage of over$17 more scientifically and economically demonstrable million. However, because the many intrinsic qual- than intrinsic qualities. These ecological services ities of wetlands cannot be quantified, it is difficult include floodpeak reduction, ground water re- to place generally accepted dollar values on wet- charge, water quality improvement, food and hab- lands. itat, food-chain support, and shoreline stabilization. The intrinsic values and ecological services pro- vided by wetlands can vary significantly from one ATTITUDES TOWARD WETLANDS The use of wetlands has become a public policy such as flood control, that benefit society. The con- issue because of conflicts between those who wish flict between developers and conservationists over to develop them and those who wish to preserve wetlands often is viewed as an issue that ‘‘involves them. Developers, for instance, regard wetlands as questions of public good as opposed to private gain’ prime locations for development because of their (21). However, the issue is not simply a matter of typical proximity to open water. Farmers drain or public versus private interests but of conflicting clear wetlands to plant crops in their rich organic public interests. soil. While there also are private gains involved, The values associated with wetlands were not the creation of new jobs or the production of food always widely recognized. For example, in the 19th that results from the development of wetlands di- century when a national priority was placed on set- rectly benefits society. tling the country, wetlands were considered a men- On the other hand, undeveloped wetlands have ace, the cause of malaria, and a hindrance to land important intrinsic qualities that are esthetically development. Through the Swamp Land Acts of pleasing and provide numerous ecological services, 1849, 1850, and 1860, Congress granted to States 37 — 38 • Wetlands: Their Use and Regulation all swamps and overflow lands for reclamation to The Nation’s coastal and inland wetlands are vi- reduce the destruction caused by flooding and elim- tal natural resources of critical importance to the inate mosquito-breeding swamps. A total of 65 mil- people of this country. Wetlands are areas of great lion acres of wetlands were granted to 15 States for natural productivity, hydrological utility, and en- reclamation (81). vironmental diversity, providing natural flood con- trol, improved water quality, recharge of aquifers, With increasing concerns about preserving dif- flow stabilization of streams and rivers, and habitat ferent ecosystems, the public’s perception of and for fish and wildlife resources. Wetlands contribute attitude toward wetlands has changed gradually to the production of agricultural products and tim- ber and provide recreational, scientific, and esthetic over the last half century. An inventory of wetlands 1 conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service resources of national interest. (FWS) in the mid-1950’s perhaps did the most to Knowledge of the importance of the ecological change attitudes about wetlands over the past three services provided by wetlands has increased steadi- decades (81). The introduction to the inventory ly, especially over the past two decades. As wetlands stated: “So long as this belief prevails (that wetlands research continues, knowledge about the values of are wastelands), wetlands will continue to be individual and different types of wetlands will, in drained, filled, diked, impounded, or otherwise all likelihood, improve. For example, some wetland altered, and thus will lose their identity as wetlands services, such as ground water recharge, have been and their value as wildlife habitat. The inventory found to be less significant than once thought. On created the lasting perception that wetlands rapid- the other hand, the ecological services of inland ly were disappearing-a perception that galvanized freshwater wetlands with the exception of wildlife certain groups to preserve wetlands. habitat are not widely recognized by the general public. It is quite possible that some wetlands may Since the intrinsic values-recreation and a sense provide ecological services that are as yet unknown of the need to preserve the unique flora and fauna or poorly documented. In addition, the overall sig- of scenic, natural areas—that motivated wetland nificance of continuing, incremental losses of wet- protection at the outset were not appreciated uni- lands is well known only in a few cases. Waterfowl versally, proponents began to investigate more tan- managers, for example, use the number of prairie gible, ecological services provided by wetlands. Ini- potholes in the Midwest to predict fall duck popula- tially, these other services were suggested in the tions; without these wetlands, North American FWS wetland inventory report: duck populations would decrease by about half. On . the storage of ground water, the retention of the other hand, the importance of wetland-derived surface water for farm uses, the stabilization of run- detritus for estuarine fish and shellfish populations off, the reduction or prevention of erosion, the pro- relative to other sources of food, such as algae and duction of timber, the creation of firebreaks, the detritus from upland areas, is not well known. Fu- provision of an outdoor laboratory for students and ture research may resolve many of these uncertain- scientists, and the production of cash crops, such ties. as minnows (for bait), marsh hay, wild rice, black- berries, cranberries and peat moss (81). In his 1977 environmental message, President Carter conveyed an attitude about wetlands that stood in sharp contrast to the attitude of the early 1Statement by the President accompanying Executive Order 11990; 1900’s: 42 FR 26961 (1977). Ch. 3—Wetland Values and the Importance of Wetlands to Man ● 39 INTRINSIC VALUES OF WETLANDS In recent years, the case for preserving wetlands ceeds 5 miles in width; yet in length they are large has been based more and more on the ecological indeed, often stretching more than half the length services provided by wetlands2 and on the avail- of the state. Narrow as they are, many provide a ability of scientific evidence documenting these ser- true wilderness experience. Where else in this vices. For example, in a recent paper, William Reil- mechanized, modern world can we so quickly lose ourselves in wildness without evidence of the mas- ly stated: sive civilization that surrounds us? (97). Every bit of evidence that does exist suggests that Part of the reason that marshes, swamps, bogs, our interior wetlands are vital elements of national and other wetlands are associated with natural, un- estate. But there are many challenging voices— questioning voices. These will become stronger in disturbed environments is that they are often the future years. They will demand to be shown the last areas to be developed. The difficulty and ex- scientific evidence behind wetland conservation pense of draining wetlands for development have decisions (81). encouraged people to develop other areas first. This situation perhaps has obscured one funda- Various studies have found that wetlands rank mental motivation of some for preserving wet- high in esthetic quality in comparison to other land- lands—the desire to preserve, intact and unspoiled, scape types (82). One particular value of wetlands unique natural ecosystems. For many personal rea- is the attraction of the land-water interface.