Other Wetland Aquisition Considerations 27 



2. Wetlands Restoration 



A wetland site may have been significantly altered or degraded through 

 human activities yet still have important functions and values or have 

 potential for having functions and values improved significantly. Such 

 sites may warrant the same priority consideration for acquisition that 

 might be given a pristine or less disturbed wetland site because of the 

 potential for recovering wetland functions and values at a relatively low 

 restoration cost. For example, some diked wetlands could have an 

 opening put in the dike to restore freshwater or tidal water fiow. This 

 action could significantly increase fish and wildlife resource and outdoor 

 recreational values, as well as increase flood storage area and reduce 

 problems associated with saltwater intrusion. 



3. Management 



Federal and State fish and wildlife and State parks and recreation 

 agencies frequently will be responsible for managing wetlands acquired 

 under the authority of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act However, 

 as appropriate, other Federal, State or local agencies (e.g., NFS, BLM, 

 U.S. Forest Service, County parks and recreation departments) and 

 private conservation organizations (e.g.. The Nature Conservancy, 

 Ducks Unlimited) may be responsible, or share responsibility with other 

 agencies, for managing acquired wetlands. 



Management needs and costs are important considerations for Federal or 

 State wetland acquisition planning. In order to minimize operation and 

 maintenance costs and manpower, it may be appropriate to give priority 

 consideration to wetland sites requiring very limited long-term physical 

 maintenance and management to protect and enhance wetland functions 

 and values. Use of personnel from a non-profit or volunteer group for 

 management purposes may be a feasible option in appropriate 

 circumstances. In any case, consideration should be given to identifying 

 any necessary funding and manpower sources for managing wetlands to 

 be acquired. 



Characteristics of the site that could generate management constraints 

 (i.e., biological or political problems) should be carefully evaluated in the 

 acquisition planning process, e.g., lack of water rights, environmental 

 contaminants, ability to protect the wetland site and resources, or 

 extraction of energy or mineral resources. Likewise, off-site biological or 

 political problems (e.g., soil erosion, pesticides, contaminated irrigation 



National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan 



