8 • Wetlands: Their Use and Regulation 



Figure A.— Actual Wetland Conversions (mid-l950's to mld-l970's) 



Freshwater wetlands 

 (in thousands of acres) 



Saltwater wetlands 

 (in thousands of acres) 



Urban 



Agriculture 

 9 



Ottier 



Open water 



areas 

 (canals, port 



and marina 

 development, 

 erosion, etc.) 



Total saltwater wetland Total freshwater wetland 



loss (actual): 482,000 acres loss (actual): 14,677,000 acres 



SOURCE: US. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland Trends Study. 1982 



Pholo credit: OTA Slatt 



Wetlands are often attractive sites for real estate development because of their waterside location. 

 This Louisiana housing development near New Orleans, for Instance, is constructed 



on filled wetlands 



