Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Coastal Watersheds of the Conterminous United States 2004 to 2009

Coastal wetlands in the United States are diverse and include both saltwater wetlands that occur along the coastal shorelines and freshwater wetlands that extend inland within the coastal drainages. Influenced by water that connects the upper reaches of the watershed withthe oceans or Great Lakes, these wetlands play a pivotal role in the watershed. Wetlands in coastal watersheds provide crucial habitat for wildlife by providing spawning grounds, nurseries, shelter, and food for finfish, shellfish, birds and other wildlife. These wetlands also help improve water quality by filtering and detoxifying runoff from residential, agricultural, and urban areas. Furthermore, there is an increasing awareness of the important role these coastal wetlands play in buffering coastlines against storm and wave damage and in stabilizing shorelines in the face of climate change impacts.

Publisher - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Subjects - Wetlands

Collection: Section 4: Aquatic Life (2014)

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Citation: Dahl TE, Stedman S-M. 2013. Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Coastal Watersheds of the Conterminous United States 2004 to 2009. Washington (DC): U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 58 pp http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Documents/Status-and-Trends-of-Wetlands-In-the-Coastal-Watersheds-of-the-Conterminous-US-2004-to-2009.pdf