INTRODUCTION 



1 



The Fish and Wildlife Service has always recognized 

 the importance of wetlands to waterfowl, other migratory 

 birds and wildlife. Its responsibility for protecting these 

 habitats comes largely from international treaties between 

 the United States and other countries concerning migra- 

 tory birds and from the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 

 Act. Con.sequently. the Service has been active in pro- 

 tecting these resources through various programs. The 

 National Wildlife Refuge System was established to pre- 

 serve and enhance migratory bird habitat in strategic loca- 

 tions across the country. More than 12 million ducks 

 breed annually in U.S. wetlands and millions more over- 

 winter here. Waterfowl banded in North Dakota have 

 been recovered in 46 states, 10 Canadian provinces and 

 territories, and 23 other countries. 



Since the 1950's, the Service has been particularly 

 concerned about wetland losses and their impact on fish 

 and wildlife populations. In 1954, the Service conducted 

 the first nationwide wetlands inventory which focused on 

 wetlands important to waterfowl. This survey was per- 

 formed to provide information for considering fish and 

 wildlife impacts in land-use decisions. The results of this 

 inventory were published in a well-known Service report 

 entitled "Wetlands of the United States," commonly re- 

 ferred to as Circular 39 (Shaw and Fredine 1956). 



Since that survey, wetlands have continued to change 

 due to both natural processes and human activities. The 

 conversion of wetlands for agriculture, residential and 

 industrial developments and other uses has accelerated. 

 During the 1960"s, the general public in many states 

 became more aware of wetland values and concerned 

 about wetland losses. They began to realize that wetlands 

 provided significant public benefits besides fish and wild- 

 life habitat, especially flood protection and water quality 

 maintenance. Prior to this time, wetlands were regarded 

 by most people as wastelands, whose best use could only 

 be attained through alteration, e.g., draining for agricul- 

 ture, dredging and filling for industrial and housing de- 

 velopments and filling with sanitary landfill. Scientific 

 studies demonstrating wetland values, especially for 

 coastal marshes, were instrumental in increasing public 

 awareness of wetland benefits and stimulating concern 

 for wetland protection. Consequently, several states 

 passed laws to protect coastal wetlands, including Massa- 

 chusetts (1963), Rhode Island (1965), Connecticut 

 (1969), New Jersey (1970), Maryland (1970), Georgia 

 (1970) and New York (1972). Several of these states 

 subsequently adopted inland wetland protection legisla- 

 tion; Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New 

 York. Most states with coastal wetlands followed the lead 

 of these northeastern states and passed laws to protect 

 these wetlands. During the early 1970"s, the Federal gov- 

 ernment also assumed greater responsibility for wetlands 

 through Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Con- 

 trol Act (later amended as the Clean Water Act of 1977). 

 Federal permits are now required for many types of con- 

 struction in many wetlands, yet most agricultural and 

 silvicultural activities are exempt. 



With increased public interest in wetlands and 



strengthened government regulation, the Service consid- 

 ered how it could contribute to this resource management 

 effort, since it has prime Federal responsibility for protec- 

 tion and management of the Nation's fish and wildlife and 

 their habitat. The Service recognized the need for sound 

 ecological information to make decisions regarding poli- 

 cy, planning, and management of the country's wetland 

 resources. In 1974, the National Wetlands Inventory Pro- 

 ject (NWI) was established. The NWI aims to generate 

 scientific infomiation on the characteristics and extent of 

 the Nation's wetlands. The purpose of this information is 

 to foster wise use of U.S. wetlands and to provide data for 

 making quick and accurate resource decisions. 



Two very different kinds of information are needed: ( 1 ) 

 detailed maps and (2) status and trends reports. First, 

 detailed wetland maps for geographic areas of critical 

 concern are needed for impact assessment of site-specific 

 projects. These maps serve a purpose similar to the Soil 

 Conservation Service's soil survey maps, the National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's coastal geo- 

 detic survey maps, and the Geological Survey's topo- 

 graphic maps. Detailed wetland maps are used by local, 

 state and Federal agencies as well as by private industry 

 and organizations for many purposes, including compre- 

 hensive resource management plans, environmental im- 

 pact assessments, permit reviews, facility and corridor 

 siting, oil spill contingency plans, natural resource inven- 

 tories, wildlife surveys and other uses. Wetland maps 

 have been produced for Hawaii, 30% of the lower 48 

 states and 6% of Alaska. Present plans are to complete 

 wetland mapping for at least 55% of the conterminous 

 U.S. and 16% of Alaska by 1988. Secondly, national 

 estimates of the current status and trends (i.e., losses and 

 gains) of wetlands are needed in order to provide im- 

 proved information for reviewing the effectiveness of 

 existing Federal programs and policies, for identifying 

 national or regional problems and for general public 

 awareness. A technical report of these trends has been 

 recently published (Frayer, et al. 1983). 



The purpose of this report is to inform government 

 agencies, private industry and organizations, the scienti- 

 fic community, and the general public about the current 

 status and historical trends of U.S. wetlands. It also iden- 

 tifies key regions where wetlands remain in greatest jeop- 

 ardy and presents management recommendations for 

 improving wetland protection. The Service's study of 

 recent wetland gains and losses provides the national 

 perspective for this report and targets current problem 

 areas. Other studies address regional and historical wet- 

 land changes. These sources provide the necessary docu- 

 mentation for presenting a complete picture of trends in 

 America's wetlands and the basis for identifying future 

 problems. While focusing on wetland trends, the report 

 begins with discussions of the concept of wetland, major 

 types of U. S. wetlands and wetland values. This back- 

 ground is essential for understanding the significance of 

 what is happening to the Nation's wetlands. Appendix A 

 provides a glossary of common and scientific names of 

 plants referred to in this report. 



