Ch. 5— Wetland Trends • 99 



gram. The 404 program provides only very 

 general unverifiable estimates of acreages of 

 wetlands converted by permitted projects on 

 a districtwide basis. 



• Interviews: Interviews are probably the best 

 qualitative source of information if they are 

 accompanied by information from the other 

 data sources. However, they must be viewed 

 strictly as expert testimony. 



OTA information from the regional case studies 

 allows the following general conclusions about past 

 and current wetland trends: 



• Agricultural practices are a major factor 

 associated with wedand loss in inland areas of 

 North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, 

 Florida, Nebraska, and California, plus the 

 prairie-potholes and Lower Mississippi River 

 Valley. Losses to wetlands continue in these 

 areas today. More detailed information on ag- 

 ricultural conversions is provided at the end 

 of this chapter. 



• Loss of coastal freshwater and saltwater wet- 

 lands to open water, deep water, and unvege- 

 tated areas through dredging and filling for 

 marinas and canals is a major factor in South 

 Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, 

 California, New Jersey, Florida, and Wash- 

 ington. The rate of loss from man's activities 

 has been reduced as a result of regulatory ef- 

 forts under the Federal section 404 program 

 and State programs. Some projects are not ap- 

 proved; others are approved with required 

 measures for restoration or creation of wet- 

 lands. Regardless of mitigation measures, 

 however, losses continue to occur. 



• Loss of inland wetlands to open and deep 

 water areas from impoundments occurs in 

 New England, Nebraska, Lower Mississippi 

 River Valley, and prairie-potholes areas. 

 Losses related to agricultural development and 

 the farm pond exemption continue, although 

 the construction of farm ponds may result in 

 new wetlands forming on adjacent lands. 

 Losses from newly designed impoundments 

 and channels for flood control and municipal 

 water supply continue, but projects are 

 handled in a more environmentally sensitive 

 manner in accordance with Federal and State 



environmental and regulatory policies. Some 

 projects may require mitigation. 



• Urban development has been a major factor 

 in wedand loss in coastal areas in South Caro- 

 lina, Florida, Mississippi, California, Wash- 

 ington, New Jersey, New England, and Alas- 

 ka. Federal and State regulatory programs 

 have slowed the loss considerably. Current 

 losses usually are restricted to water-dependent 

 projects and often require mitigation. Losses 

 continue in areas that are not subject to regula- 

 tion and from small projects that potentially 

 may have significant cumulative impacts. 

 Losses also continue in areas (e.g., southeast 

 and south-central Alaska) where there are few 

 alternative construction sites in nonwedands. 



• Sources of loss from other uses include forest- 

 ry, mining, port development, road construc- 

 tion, and succession to nonwedands. These ac- 

 tivities are important to varying degrees in 

 many areas, including North Carolina, the 

 Lower Mississippi River Valley, Florida, New 

 England, Nebraska, prairie-potholes, Mary- 

 land, California, Alaska, and Washington. 

 Losses continue for nonregulated activities and 

 areas. Losses also continue for activities sub- 

 ject to regulation, but again are generally 

 handled in a more environmentally sensitive 

 manner in accordance with Federal and State 

 environmental and regulatory policies. 



Case study information can reveal further some 

 of the specific factors associated with these losses 

 in different regions. The following tables summar- 

 ize case study information on the major national 

 trends for vegetated wetlands. Tables 18 to 21 pre- 

 sent information on conversions to agriculture, 

 open and deep water, urban development, and 

 other uses, respectively. Conversions to other non- 

 vegetated wetlands were not addressed specifically 

 in the case studies. The category "other uses" in- 

 cludes information on forestry, mining, ports, road 

 construction, and activities in non wetlands. The 

 tables include information on how the conversions 

 are accomplished, important regions and types of 

 wetland involved, reasons why the changes occur, 

 and current and past trends, where available. Im- 

 pacts of activities causing conversions are discussed 

 further in chapter 6; the current programs that reg- 



