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<br />Wetlands <br /> <br />THE IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS <br /> <br />State and federal <br />policies 11l11'e shifted <br />away from draining <br />\retlallds lou'ard <br />promoting their <br />preserl'lltioll and <br />restoration. <br /> <br />Wetlands have become a special target of environ- <br />mental restoration because of relatively recent <br />recognition of theif role in distributing water, recharg- <br />ing groundwater and connecting fresh water and salt <br />water environments. Wetlands generally are defined <br />as lands where saturation with water is the dominant <br />factor determining the nature of soil development and <br />the types of plant and animal communities living in <br />the soil and on its surlace, Wetlands (also known as <br />marshes, swamps or fens) have been prized by <br />farmers for their rich soil, but scorned by others as <br />breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects and <br />animals. <br /> <br /> <br />--~ <br /> <br />.. <br />i!J1lI <br />II .. <br /> <br />Most of the estimated 5 million acres of wetlands <br />that once existed in California have been drained, <br />and today that land supports some of the state's <br />richest agricultural production. Policies such as the <br />Federal Swamp Land Acts of the 1800s encouraged <br />states to drain wetlands and "reclaim" them for other <br />uses, mainly agriculture. The California Resources <br />Agency estimates that the state lost about 90 percent <br />of its wetlands areas, leaving only about 450,000 acres, <br /> <br />The emergence of the environmental movement in <br />the 1960s called attention to the importance of <br />wetlands in a broader ecological context. Since then, <br />the role of wetlands in the hydrologic cycle and as <br />habitat for fish and wildlite has become better <br />understood, and state and federal policies have <br />shifted away from draining wetlands toward <br />promoting their preservation and restoration. <br /> <br />Wetlands help improve water quality by filtering <br />sediments, nutrients and pollutants out of water <br />passing through them, Fresh water flows stored in <br />wetlands help recharge groundwater aquifers and <br />reduce the risk of flooding by slowing the release of <br />peak flows, Vegetation in wetlands helps protect <br />against soil erosion and sedimentation of water <br />bodies. Wetlands provide habitat for numerous birds <br />and mammals, spawning areas for fish, and food for <br />a wide variety of wildlife. The overlap of terrestrial <br />and aquatic environments in wetlands helps promote <br />biodiversity, Many of California's rare and <br />endangered species have their habitats in wetlands. <br /> <br />Interest in preserving and restoring wetlands got a <br />big boost in 1993 when Gov. Pete Wilson announced <br />a California Wetlands Conservation Policy. Its goals <br />were to ensure no overall net loss of wetlands while <br />at the same time pursuing a long-term net gain in <br />the quantity, quality and permanence of wetlands <br />acreage. Because most remaining wetlands and <br />potentially restorable wetlands are privately owned, <br />the policy encouraged partnerships between private <br />land owners, government agencies and other <br />organizations such as conservation groups to <br />conserve and restore wetlands. <br /> <br />The policy of increasing wetlands acreage will require <br />larger allocations of water to supply those wetlands, <br />Water allocated to wetlands could cause conflicts <br />among water stakeholders as they jockey for shares <br />of what the Department of Water Resources projects <br />will be growing wafer shortages in both average and <br />drought years, <br />