As the name implies, "wetlands" are wet areas characterized by soils that are permanently or seasonally saturated with water. They contain a variety of plants, shrubs and trees which have adapted to living in a wet environment. Wetlands are also fascinating aquatic ecosystems providing essential habitats for birds, animals, fish, amphibians, reptiles and other life forms. Also important for flood water storage and recharging of ground water supplies, wetlands function as nature's recycling systems for regulating and purifying our water resources.
Wetlands come in a variety of sizes, shapes, depths and other individual characteristics. Marshes, swamps and bogs are the most common types of permanent wetlands while temporarily flooded swales and fields represent seasonal wetlands. Many wildlife species are completely dependent on wetland areas for their survival while others use wetlands occasionally. Wetlands along streams also serve as wildlife travel corridors linking other habitats.
Dead Creek is a good example of a permanent, shallow marsh containing an interspersion of vegetation types and open water. This wetland complex provided food, cover, breeding and resting areas for a multitude of wildlife and offers a wide range of recreational experiences for the public.
Although wetlands are perhaps the most productive ecological
units, they are relatively scarce. Approximately 300,000 acres of wetlands still exist in Vermont but represent only five percent of the state's surface area. With almost thirty-five percent of Vermont's original wetlands having already been destroyed, recognition of wetland values and wetland protection efforts are very important today.
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