Table of Contents 



Page 



Acknowledgements i 



Table of Contents ii 



List of Figures iv 



List of Tables vi 



Executive Summary vii 



Introduction 1 



What Is A Wetland? 2 



The Fish and Wildlife Service's Definition 2 



References 3 



Major Wetland Types of the United States 5 



Estuarine Wetlands 6 



Estuarine Emergent Wetlands 6 



Estuarine Intertidal Flats 6 



Estuarine Scrub-Shrub Wetlands 8 



Palustrine Wetlands 9 



Falustrine Emergent Wetlands 9 



Palustrine Scrub-Shrub Wetlands 11 



Palustrine Forested Wetlands 11 



References 11 



Why Are Wetlands Important? 13 



Fish and Wildlife Values 13 



Fish and Shellfish Habitat 13 



Waterfowl and Other Bird Habitat 14 



Furbearer and Other Wildlife Habitat 16 



Environmental Quality Values 18 



Water Quality Improvement 18 



Aquatic Productivity 19 



Socio-Economic Values 19 



Flood and Storm Damage Protection 21 



Erosion Control 23 



Water Supply and Groundwater Recharge 23 



Harvest of Natural Products 23 



Recreation and Aesthetics 24 



