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\\IL\I' KINIIS OF WETIANIIS AHI: FOllNlIlN COLOH,\Il()'! There are nearly as many ways of classifying wetlands as there are kinds of wetlands. For this booklet, we have divid- ed Colorado's wetlands into four major types: ril)ilrian lands. including willow, alder and cot- tonwood forest ecosystems. Riparian is a geographic term, meaning along the banks of rivers or streams; marshes and wet meadows can also occur in riparian areas. \\1'I1IIl';uIO\\S. having saturated soils for long periods of time during the growing season-but not deep 1I00ding marshes. which are very dynamic wet. lands characterized by inlluxes of water in the spring that can create lIooded conditions and relatively deep water, followed by dropping water levels during the growing season 4, peallands. created where groundwater seeps to the surface and peat accumulates slowly over thou- sands of years Of these four types, wet mead- ows account for the largest number of acres. Although peat mining has occurred in Colorado, many of our peatlands still exist because they are located in isolated muuntain valleys. Riparian systems and marshes have not fared so well. Most of our marsh- es, which were once very common at altitudes below 8,500 feet, have either disappeared or been reduced in size. Riparian areas along many of our low- land rivers have been radically altered. \\IIAr 110 \\'ETIANIIS I)()'! One of the most important-if unseeu-funrlions of il wetland is cleaning Ihe water that 1I0ws throngh it. Because wetlands occur at low Projr(/ IVILD tmil/ing sessiof/ at a marsh if! SOl/lit Plratc fmk LiIfMfJlI. ,H(/!/(fgrd hy Ihl' Colorado Di/'i.l'io/I o( IViflllifl'. (/if' ProJ('ct WILD nmiCII!um!rac!lCs sll/del/!s about wildli((' (Jud l!Jtfr !J(JIJilfl/, Photo hy 1t'i'!dofJ Lt!'. points in the landscape, they can serve as collection points where water can spread out and unluad sediment that may be laden with heavy metals like lead and zinc, pesticides and fertil- izers. Wetland bacteria and plants can also absorb nutrients, metals and other substances that can be stored in the wetland's soil and sediments. Because uf their abundance of water and the diversity of the plants ~ that grow in them, wetlands are very productive sources of forage for both wildlife and livestock-and very important as nesting, feeding and resting areas for birds and as sites for human activities that range from hunting, fishing and bird-watching to farming and ranching. Wetlands are also importanl as outdoor laboraturies and classrooms. Wetlands-especially riparian wetlands and marshes-can also help prevent downstream 1I00ding by spreading out and storing sOllie 1I00d waters. Wet!;lI1d vegetation along streallls and rivers stahilizes haoks ami prevents erosion. Wetlands are also usnally sites where groundwaler snpplies are replenished.