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Wetlands Values and Management by W. Alan Wentz, South Dakota Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Wetlands are unique environments. They are usually characterized by shallow or fluctuating water levels and an abundance of aquatic and marsh plants. Different kinds of wetlands occur throughout North America. Although each wetland is different, we generally refer to them as marshes, swamps, bayous, bogs, potholes, sloughs, or just ponds. Biolo- gists use more specialized classification systems to define the structure and func- tion of different types of wetlands. In this publication the more generalized terms will be used. The values of wetland areas are usu- ally taken for granted and often over- looked. Because of this many of our wetlands have been drained, filled, or otherwise destroyed. For many years,wet- lands were regarded as "wastelands" that could be used for dumping refuse, drain- ing for agricultural use, or filling in for building sites. Since colonial times nearly half of our U.S. wetlands have been drained and even today 200 to 300 thou- sand acres of U.S. wetlands are destroyed each year. Today we know that wetlands have many values and that those values are lost when the wetland is destroyed. Many people and organizations are concerned about the loss of wetlands and their values. This concern has been expressed through a variety of personal actions and laws that protect wetlands. However, in many cases, simple protection alone is not adequate and wetlands must be managed to maintain and enhance the natural values that they possess. This publication is designed to help explain some of the values of natural wetlands and to describe a few of the management techniques that are available to private landowners.