From Wastelands to Wetlands

When the Europeans first came to North America, they discovered vast expanses of fertile land in forests and prairies that would support the production of agricultural crops. Along with the upland fertile soils that lent themselves to clearing and farming, these settlers also encountered large areas of water-dominated lands that we now call wetlands. To the early settlers these wetland areas were for the most part wastelands and were generally considered to be unpleasant and unhealthy environments. We have learned in recent decades that the extensive wetland areas of this country have many beneficial uses. Improvement in water quality, flood control, storm abatement, protection of unique species of plants and animals, and food chain support are some of the important functions that wetlands perform. Before and during the same time that the value of natural wetlands was slowly being recognized, extensive drainage and conversion of wetlands to other uses were taking place, resulting in conversion of approximately half of the country's wetlands to nonwetland uses. Most drainage of wetlands, both past and present, is for agricultural use. There is now considerable interest country-wide in slowing this wetland conversion. Conversion of wetlands to agricultural, urban, and industrial uses is now regulated under Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act. The present level of regulation is not without problems, especially in regions with extensive areas of wetlands where there might be insufficient upland area for development, and in regions where the few areas that have wetland characteristics do not qualify for 404 protection.