Ill 



Almost everything can be shown to have "value." But we trade off valuable resources every day so 

 we can have outputs that are MORE valuable to society. Until we know the opportunity costs of 

 using wetlands to reduce nonpoint pollution, it is only a gamble to say wetlands should be protected 

 because they are "valuable" pollution fighters. Some wetlands, in fact, may contribute to water 



pollution. 



Tlie messages I wish to leave this morning are (1) we need to agree what wetlands are before laws 

 are written to regulate their use; (2) wetlands are not all equally valuable to society, either because 

 they don't all perform useful fiinctions, or because there is no demand for the function; and (3) the 

 correct choices about resources cannot be made without knowing the opportunity costs. 



