Benefits of Wetlands
By filtering water before it can enter creeks, streams and rivers, wetlands work to keep the Chesapeake Bay clean. Wetlands also provide food and shelter to plants and animals and perform services that hold economic value.
Clean Water
Rainfall that reaches the ground can be absorbed into the soil or flow over the land. When a wetland is able to capture this water before it can enter a creek, stream or river, it functions like a natural filter that traps nutrients, sediment and other pollutants.
Wildlife
Wetlands have been compared to rainforests and coral reefs because of the large amount of plants and animals they support. Wetlands are wonderful places to hunt, fish, watch birds or photograph the natural world.
Economy
The environmental services that wetlands provide hold economic value. Wetlands also provide financial benefits to landowners who participate in conservation programs or lease their wetlands to hunters.
Wetlands Work connects farmers and agricultural landowners with wetland planners, restoration programs and sources of funding. It is a product of the Chesapeake Bay Program and its partners.
