CRS-44 



WETLAND RESOURCES 



Functions of Wetlands 



Wetland functions, the beneficial roles for which wetlands may be val- 

 ued, have been described extensively by scientists. The values of these 

 functions, individually and in composite, have been articulated by policy 

 makers and the public as rationale for protecting wetlands. The result has 

 been a sometimes confusing justification for halting conversion of wetlands 

 to other uses on national, State, and local levels. The functions that 

 scientists generally attribute to wetlands are reviewed below. It is impor- 

 tant to remember that all functions are not reinforcing, and some are in- 

 compatible. A leading wetland scientist noted the variability among wetland 

 functions: 



Each state and federal regulatory program does not recog- 

 nize or protect all functional values of wetlands. When 

 viewed collectively, however, these programs recognize values 

 of wetlands that involve flood control, storm damage, water 

 quality, fish nursery, nutrient productivity, groundwater 

 supply, visual-cultural values, and wildlife. It Is widely 

 accepted, but not well specified by scientific documentation, 

 that each wetland functions neither to provide all of these 

 values nor any of them equally. 14 / 



The functions of wetlands can be variously described. A recent national 



conference of wetland scientists was organized around the following functions: 



food chain, habitat, hydrologic and hydraulic, water quality maintenance, and 



harvest and heritage. 15 / 



14 / Larson, Joseph S. Wetland Value Assessment — State of the Art. In 

 National Wetlands Newsletter, v. 3, no. 2. Washington, Environmental Law 

 Institute, March-April 1981. p. 5. 



15 / Greeson, Phillip, John Clark and Judith Clark (eds.). Wetland 

 Functions and Values: The State of Our Understanding. TPS79-20. Minneapolis, 

 American Water Resources Association. 1979. 674 p. and Clark and Clark, 

 Scientists' Report, 129 p. 



