Mid-Atlantic Wetlands: A Disappearing Natural …...This booklet provides the general public withthe...

MIDATLANTIC WETLANDSA Disappearing Natural Treasure

MID-A'TI.ANTTC WETLANDSA Disappearing Natural Treasure

byRalph W. Tiner, Jr.

MID-ATLANTIC WETLANDS

TABLE OFCONTENTS

PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ivINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1WETLAND TYPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2VALUES OF WETLANDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4CURRENT STATUS ANDRECENT TRENDS IN WETLANDS . . . . . . 7CURRENT STATUS OF WETLANDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8DELAWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8MARYLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9PENNSYLVANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10VIRGINIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11WEST VIRGINIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13FIVE-STATE REGION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

RECENT WETLAND TRENDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16DELAWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18MARYLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19PENNSYLVANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20VIRGINIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21WEST VIRGINIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23FIVE-STATE REGION

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24THE FUTURE OF MIDATLANTIC WETLANDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Cure, Photo h. George Fen, ick

Title Page Photo (w Ralph Tine,

Ruk Co" Photo Credits : Lam Ditto (a) ; Pat Hagan (h);

ManMartin (c) ; Paid Wiegman(d) ; I)"re \t,,,k, (e); USFW'S 0 ; Ro, W. Lo- (g); Don- D,churst (h) ; USFWS (i) .

U.S . Environmental Protection AgencyRegion IIIOffice of Public Affairs(3PA00)841 Chestnut BuildingPhiladelphia, PA 19107

orU.S . Fish and Wildlife ServiceRegion 5Fish and Wildlife Enhancement (NWI)One Gateway CenterNewton Corner, MA 02158

T his booklet provides the general publicwith the most up-to-date information

on the status and recent trends inwetlands of five states in the Mid-Atlanticregion : Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania,Virginia, and West Virginia . Pertinentbackground information on wetland typesand values is also presented along withsome recommendations to improve the

future for wetlands . This booklet is basedon a recently completed U.S . Fish andWildlife Service-U.S . Environmental Pro-tection Agency study of wetland changesin this five-state region . This study wasdesigned to answer questions such as :(1) How much wetland exists in theregion?, (2) Where are wetlands mostabundant?, (3) What wetland types are

most common? (4) How have wetlandschanged between the mid-1950's and late1970's?, (5) What wetlands are mostthreatened?, and (6) What are the majorcauses of wetland changes? We hope thatthis booklet will provide you with theanswers to these questions, give you abetter understanding of wetlands, andspark an interest in the conservation ofthese valuable natural resources.

T he collection of wet environmentsoccuring on the landscape in the Mid-

Atlantic region and elsewhere are called"wetlands." They include tidal marshes andmudflats along the coast and freshwatermarshes and swamps, bottomland hard-wood forests, wet meadows, ponds, andbogs further inland .

In the past, wetlands were generallyviewed as wastelands-places infested withmosquitoes, biting flies and poisonoussnakes-and having little real or economicvalue. Largely because of this negativeview, wetlands were regarded as potentialsites for development or as convenient sitesfor waste disposal . In agricultural areas,many wetlands were drained, cleared, andput into crop production, while in urbanareas, other wetlands were filled forhouses, industrial facilities, office buildingsand sanitary landfills . Consequently,today, less than half of America's originalwetlands remain .

During the past thirty years, ourknowledge about wetlands and theirnatural values has greatly increased. We

UPI-AND

WATER TABLE

INTRODUCTION

HIGH _WATERLO'~X' WATER

DEPRESSIONAL WETLAND

now know that wetlands are importantnatural resources that provide numerousbenefits to our society . First, wetlands arethe vital habitats for many plants andanimals. In fact, the majority of ourthreatened and endangered plant speciesand many endangered animals depend onwetlands for survival . Wetlands also pro-vide more direct values to people in manyways, such as improving water quality,reducing flood and storm damages,minimizing erosion of upland, and sup-porting tourism and the hunting andfishing industries . Because wetlands are im-portant to people, the federal governmentis regulating various uses of wetlands,especially the deposition of fill in wetlands .Most Mid-Atlantic states have enactedlaws to regulate specific uses of certaintypes of wetlands . Despite these controls,wetlands, like other natural areas, remainunder increasing pressure for developmentas our population increases.

OVERFLOW DEEPWATER OVERFLOWWETLAND HABITAT WETLAND

Bittern chicks .

STREAM

SEEPAGE WETLANDON SLOPE

UPLAND

GROUNDWATERDISCHARGE

Schematic diagram showing wetlands, deepwater habitats, and uplands on the landscape. Note differences in wetlands due to hydrology andtopographic position .

Phil Norton

ust what are wetlands, you might ask?J Wetlands are largely semi-aquatic landsthat are flooded for varying periods of timeduring the growing season . When notflooded, wetland soils are often saturatednear the land surface. Wetlands includeareas commonly called marshes, swamps,and bogs as well as the shallow waterzones of rivers, lakes, and ponds . Thepresence of water in these areas createsenvironmental conditions that affect thetypes of soils that develop and the types ofplants and animals living there . In general,wetlands are defined by the predominanceof "hydrophytes" (plants adapted for life inwet soils) and the presence of "hydric soils"(saturated or periodically flooded soils) .

A variety of wetland types existthroughout the Mid-Atlantic region due todifferences in climate, soil, hydrology,salinity, vegetation, and other factors . Twogeneral types of wetlands are recognized :(1) coastal wetlands and (2) inland wetlands .Coastal wetlands consist mainly of tidalmarshes and mudflats that are periodicallyflooded by salt or brackish water . As theirname suggests, coastal wetlands are found

Ralph Tine

Glasswort, a common salt-loving plant, occupiesshallow depressions called pannes in salinecoastal marshes.2

in the Coastal Zone along tidal rivers andsaltwater embayments . By contrast, inlandwetlands are freshwater marshes, swamps,and bogs that are largely non-tidal (notaffected by ocean-driven tides). Theyusually occur on floodplains along riversand streams, along the margins of lakesand ponds, and in isolated depressions inthe upland . Yet, some freshwater wetlandsoccur in the freshwater portions of tidalcoastal rivers, such as the Potomac, Nanti-coke, and Delaware rivers .

a_1ucrWrc(u] :"mm, oog ; :c i'C1LTLS -eeivi)iue s i' . , cirtc} r1'gioii.

Wetlands are further characterized by theirdominant vegetation as : (1) emergentwetlands (commonly called marshes andwet meadows) dominated by grasses,sedges, and other herbaceous (non-woody)plants, (2) shrub wetlands (including shrubswamps and bogs) represented by low tomedium-height (less than 20 feet tall)woody plants, and (3) forested wetlands(largely wooded swamps and bottomlandhardwood forests) dominated by trees(greater than 20 feet tall) .

Ralph Ti-

Many inland wetlands are mosaics of emergent, shrub, and forested wetland communities .

John Organ

Coastal Wetlands

Coastal marshes (also called estuarineemergent wetlands) are the dominant typeof coastal wetlands . They are largely grass-

UPLAND

MARSH-UPLANDElands flooded by salt or brackish tidal

Ec'E~ER

POOL-

LEiH1 H,\IAK,~H

IM-ER - 1iDALwater . Salt-tolerant grasses, including

FLAT

,

AQUATIC BED

smooth cordgrass, salt hay grass, giant

IRREGULARLY

REGULARLYcordgrass, and switchgrass, generally

FLOODED

;

FLOODED !' ESTUARINEdominate these wetlands . Other her-

ZONE ZONE

DEEP WATER

baceous plants, such as black needlerush,

Hydrology of coastal wetlands showing different zones of flooding. The regularly flooded zone isthree-squares, narrow-leaved cattail, and

flooded at least once daily by the tides, while the irregularly flooded zone is flooded less often .rose mallow, may also be abundant,

Ralph Tine,

especially in brackish water areas . Coastalmarshes can be divided into two zonesbased on elevation and flooding frequency:(1) low marsh-flooded at least once a dayand (2) high marsh-flooded less thandaily . Most of the coastal marshes in thefive-state Mid-Atlantic region are highmarshes associated with Chesapeake andDelaware Bays and their tributaries . Othercoastal wetlands are represented by non-vegetated tidal flats and by shrub wetlandsdominated by high-tide bush and ground-sel tree .

Salt marsh on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Inland Wetlands

The Mid-Atlantic region's inland wetlandsare mostly non-tidal (above tidalinfluence) . Three types are most common :(1) emergent wetlands, (2) shrub wetlands,and (3) forested wetlands . Forestedwetlands are, by far, the most commontype . Red maple, silver maple, black gum,willow oak, green ash, pin oak, and sweetgum are among the common trees inforested wetlands . Bald cypress is mostabundant in southeastern Virginia, butalso common in eastern Maryland .Common shrubs include buttonbush,swamp rose, alders, willows, and silkydogwood . Meadowsweet and leatherleafare more typical of shrub swamps athigher elevations in the AppalachianHighlands of Pennsylvania, West Virginia,and western Maryland . Emergent wetlandsare dominated by a number of herbaceousplants including broad-leaved cattail,bluejoint grass, reed canary grass, softrush, wool grass, sedges, smartweeds, andcertain asters and goldenrods .

Bottomland hardwood forested wetlands are common along rivers throughout the region .

W etlands in the Mid-Atlantic regionare important natural resources not

only to local residents, but also to othersliving outside of the area who consume orutilize products produced there . At thecenter of the region lies ChesapeakeBay-the nation's largest estuary and anational treasure . Wetlands are vital to thewell-being of the Bay and its livingresources .

In their natural condition, wetlands pro-vide many benefits including : (1) fish andwildlife habitat, (2) aquatic productivity, (3)water quality improvement, (4) flooddamage protection, (5) erosion control, (6)natural products for human use, and (7)opportunities for recreation and aestheticappreciation. Each wetland works in com-bination with other wetlands as part of acomplex, integrated system that deliversthese benefits and others to society . Anassessment of the value of a particularwetland must take this critical inter-relationship into account .

Fish and Wildlife HabitatWetlands are required by many types ofanimals and plants for survival . For many,like the wood duck and muskrat or cattailand swamp rose, wetlands are theirprimary homes or habitats-the onlyplaces they can live . For other animals,such as striped bass, the endangeredperegrine falcon, or white-tailed deer,wetlands provide food, water, or coverthat are important to their well-being, butwetlands are not their primary residences.It is interesting to note that the majority ofrare and endangered plants in many statesdepend on wetlands for survival.

Coastal wetlands are particularly impor-tant habitats for estuarine and marinefishes and shellfish, various waterfowl,shorebirds and wading birds, and severalmammals. Most commercial and gamefishes use coastal marshes and estuaries asnursery or spawning grounds . Menhaden,bluefish, flounder, sea trout, spot, mullet,croaker, and striped bass are among themore familiar fishes that depend on coastal4

VALUES OFMTTLANDS

wetlands. In fact, Chesapeake Bay is themajor spawning and nursery grounds forstriped bass on the East Coast . Blue crabs,the prized shellfish of the Bay, also dependon coastal marshes, as do other shellfishsuch as oysters, clams, and shrimp .

Inland wetlands are also valuable fish andwildlife habitats . Most freshwater fishesfeed in wetlands or upon wetland-produced food and use wetlands as nurserygrounds . Interestingly enough, almost allimportant recreational fishes spawn in theaquatic portions of wetlands . A variety of

Male wood duck .

Many upland animals come to wetlands for water.

birdlife is also associated with inlandwetlands . Ducks, geese, redwingedblackbirds, and a large number ofsongbirds feed, nest and raise their youngin these wetlands . Muskrat and beaver arethe most familiar wetland mammals.White-tailed deer (a traditional uplandgame mammal) use wetlands for food andshelter, especially evergreen forestedwetlands in winter . The mighty black bearfinds refuge and food in forested andshrub swamps of the Pocono region ofPennsylvania and other areas .

Paul " °~ttan

Spreading globe-flower-a rare wetland plant .I IVWS

Aquatic ProductivityWetlands are among the most productivenatural ecosystems in the world andcertain types of wetlands may be thehighest, rivaling our best cornfields .Wetlands can be regarded as the farmlandsof the aquatic environment since greatvolumes of food (plant material) areproduced by them annually . Althoughdirect grazing of most wetland plants isgenerally limited, their major food value

Muskrat cmd its lodg=e in a cattail marsh.

comes from dead leaves and stems thatbreakdown in the water to form smallparticles of organic material called"detritus" . This enriched detritus serves asthe principal food for many small aquaticinvertebrates and forage fishes that arefood for larger predatory fishes, such asbluefish and striped bass. These largerfishes are, in turn, consumed by people .Thus, wetlands provide an importantsource of food for people as well as foraquatic animals .

Mid-Atlantic coastal marshes annually produce over a million tons of organic material (detritus)that supports fish and shellfish important to people .

USFW'S

Water Quality ImprovementOne of the most important values ofwetlands is their ability to help maintaingood water quality in our nation's riversand other waterbodies and to improvedegraded waters . Wetlands do this inseveral ways : (1) removing and retainingnutrients, (2) processing chemical andorganic wastes, and (3) reducing sedimentloads to receiving waters . Wetlands areparticularly good water filters. Due to theirposition between upland and deep water,wetlands can both intercept surface-waterrunoff from land before it reaches openwater and help filter nutrients, wastes, andsediment from flooding waters . This func-tion is important in both urban andagricultural areas . The future ofChesapeake Bay depends on restoringgood water quality, and protectingwetlands within the Bay's watershed arevital to this effort . Clean waters areimportant to people as well as to aquaticand other wildlife .

Flood Damage ProtectionWetlands have often been referred to asnatural sponges that absorb floodingwaters, yet they actually function more likenatural tubs, storing flood waters thatoverflow riverbanks or surface water thatcollects in isolated depressions . By tem-porarily storing flood waters, wetlands helpprotect adjacent and downstream propertyowners from flood damage . Trees andother wetland plants help slow the speedof flood waters . This action combined withwater storage allows wetlands to lowerflood heights and reduce the water'serosive potential . Wetlands in andupstream of urban areas are especiallyvaluable for flood protection, since urbandevelopment increases the rate and volumeof surface-water runoff, thereby increasingthe risk of flood damage . In agriculturalareas, wetlands help to reduce thelikelihood of flood damage to crops.

Wetlands are valuable flood storage areas; wetland destruction accelerates flood damages inurban areas .

Erosion ControlWetlands are often located between riversand high ground and are, therefore, in agood position to buffer the land againsterosion . Wetland plants are most impor-tant in this regard, since they increase thedurability of the sediment through bindingsoil with their roots, dampen wave actionby friction, and reduce current velocitythrough friction . The states of Delawareand Maryland are now recommending theplanting of wetland vegetation to controlshoreline erosion in coastal environments .

Natural ProductsA wealth of natural products are producedby wetlands . Products that are available forhuman use include timber, fish and shellfish, wildlife, blueberries and peat moss .a

6

D.1~t?Fc

Chesapeake Bay is the largest producer ofblue crabs in the world and the largestsingle source of oysters in this country.Wetland grasses are hayed in many placesfor winter livestock feed and during thespring and summer, livestock graze inmany freshwater marshes . In certain areaslike the Poconos and western Maryland,wetlands are being mined for peat mosswhich is used for horticultural purposes .Harvest of peat moss requires excavationof natural wetlands which unfortunatelyeliminates most of the wetland's values,especially as wildlife habitat .

Recreation and Aesthetics

A fringe of marsh grasses as narrow as eight feet can reduce wave energy by over 50 percent(a-during planting; b-one year later).

kelp Drake

Many recreational activities take place inand around wetlands . Waterfowl hunting,fishing and crabbing are popular sports .Other recreation is largely non-

RN hFC

Highbush blueberry .

consumptive and involves activities likehiking, nature observation and photog-raphy, swimming, boating, and ice skating .Many people simply enjoy the beauty andsounds of nature and spend their leisuretime walking or boating in or nearwetlands observing plant and animal life .Through the centuries, wetlands have alsocaptured the attention of artists who havepainted wetland scenes or have writtenabout wetlands . Thus, wetlands arewithout question an important part of thenatural heritage of America-one of ourmost valuable natural treasures.

f,TA"

Wetlands offer opportunities for environmentaleducation.

USF.

Dave Menke

CURRENT STATUS ANDRECENT TRENDS INWETLANDS

T he most recent information on thecurrent status and recent trends in

wetlands for the five Mid-Atlantic statescomes from a joint U.S . Fish and WildlifeService-U.S . Environmental ProtectionAgency study . Using a statistical samplingdesign, researchers determined wetlandchanges between the mid-1950's and late1970's for this region . Four-square milesample plots were randomly selectedwithin each state and evaluated for changethrough photo interpretation techniques .By comparing aerial photos from two timeperiods for each plot, the extent ofwetland present at both times and cor-responding wetland changes (losses andgains) were identified . From this informa-tion, current wetland acreage and recenttrends were estimated . The following twosubsections summarize the study's findingson the current status of wetlands in eachstate and in the Chesapeake Bay water-shed and on their recent changes.

Human activities have had a greater impact on wetlands than natural events : (a) FenwickIsland-Bayville area of Delaware in 1954 and (b) same area in 1977. Note drastic decrease incoastal wetlands along bays by dredge and fill residential developments .

COASTALMARSHES

TIDAL FLATS/BEACHES

INLAND EMERGENT WETLANDS

INLAND SHRUB WETLANDS

INLAND FORESTED WETLANDS

FRESHWATER PONDS

*Actual wetland acreages are available inWetlands of Delaware-a cooperativeU.S . Fish and Wildlife Service and DelawareDepartment of Natural Resources andEnvironmental Control publication .

Current Status of WetlandsDELAWARE

25 50 75 100 125 150THOUSAND ACRES (ESTIMATES)

Roughly 216,000 acres of wetlands exist in Delaware . Coastalwetlands represent slightly less than one-third of the state'swetlands, while the majority are inland forested wetlands .

WETLAND DISTRIBUTION

About 17 percent of the state's land area is wetland. Most ofthe coastal wetlands lie along Delaware Bay, while most ofthe state's inland wetlands occur in the Coastal Plain region .

D PIEDMONTD COASTAL PLAIND COASTAL ZONE

COASTALMARSHES

TIDAL FLATS/BEACHES




FRESHWATER PONDS

About six percent of the state's land areais represented by wetland . Forty-eightpercent of the state's total wetlands andnearly 80 percent of its inland wetlands areassociated with the Lower Coastal Plainarea on the Eastern Shore . Coastalwetlands comprise about 38 percent of thestate's wetlands and are mostly associatedwith Chesapeake Bay, with the rest foundalong the Atlantic Ocean behindAssateague Island .

APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDSPIEDMONT

D UPPER COASTAL PLAINLOWER COASTAL PLAINCOASTAL ZONE

Current Status of WetlandsMARYLAND

25 50 75 100 125 150 175

THOUSAND ACRES (ESTIMATES)

Maryland possesses nearly 440,000 acres of wetlands . Inlandwetlands represent nearly two-thirds of the state's wetlands,with coastal wetlands comprising the remainder .


200

EMERGENT WETLANDS

SHRUB WETLANDS

FORESTED WETLANDS

FRESHWATER PONDS

10

*These areas are part of the AppalachianHighlands physiographic region .

Current Status of WetlandsPENNSYLVANIA


Nearly one-half million acres of wetlands are present inPennsylvania . Forested wetlands and shrub wetlands compriseslightly less than three-quarters of the state's wetlands .


Wetlands represent about two percent ofthe state's land area . Nearly one-fifth ofthe state's wetlands are found in north-western Pennsylvania, while an almostequal amount is located in the Poconoregion .

MIDDLE WESTERN UPLANDPLAINAPPALACHIAN HIGHLANDSOTHERGLACIATEDNORTHEASTERN PENN

El POCONOS #1POCONOS #2 *PIEDMONTADIRONDACKNEW ENGLAND HIGHLANDS

COASTAL MARSHES

TIDALFLATS/BEACHES




FRESHWATER PONDS

About four percent of the state's land areais wetland . Most of Virginia's wetlands arefound in the Coastal Plain, where 64 per-cent of the state's freshwater wetlands arelocated . The Piedmont has 22 percent ofthe state's total wetlands which represents28 percent of the state's freshwaterwetlands .

APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDSPIEDMONTUPPER COASTAL PLAINLOWER COASTAL PLAINCOASTAL ZONE

Current Status of WetlandsVIRGINIA


Virginia has slightly more than one million acres of wetlands .Coastal wetlands represent slightly less than one-fourth of thestate's wetlands, while inland wetlands are most abundant.


EMERGENT WETLANDS

SHRUB WETLANDS

FORESTED WETLANDS

FRESHWATER PONDS

12

Current Status of WetlandsWEST VIRGINIA

25 50 75 100 125 150


Roughly 102,000 acres of wetlands are present in WestVirginia . Forty-one percent of the state's wetlands areforested wetlands, with about equal amounts of emergentand shrub wetlands present .


The Canaan Valley and the MeadowRiver area possess about 14 percent of thestate's wetlands . Overall, less than onepercent of West Virginia is wetland.

APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDSCANAAN VALLEY

0 MEADOW RIVER AREA*

*These areas are part of the AppalachianHighlands physiographic region .

Current Status of WetlandsCHESAPEAKE WATERSHEDCOASTAL MARSHES

TIDAL FLATS/BEACHES


INLAND SHRUBWETLANDS


FRESHWATER PONDS

About 1 .2 million acres of wetlands are found within theChesapeake Bay drainage area. Over three-quarters of thesewetlands are inland wetlands and about one-fifth are coastalwetlands .

Young green herons out on a limb .

The Chesapeake Bay drainage areaencompasses parts of six states. Aboutthree percent of the watershed iscomprised of wetlands .

Roy W . I_OQIL'

_

- T

100 200 300 400 500THOUSAND ACRES (ESTIMATES)

13

O

900

800

700

o 600w

500

400

300

200

100

The five-state region has slightly more than two million acresof wetlands . This amounts to an area twice the size ofDelaware or one-third of the size of Maryland. Virginia hasthe greatest wetland acreage among the five states, whilemountainous West Virginia has the least .

Current Status of WetlandsREGIONAL OVERVIEW

DELAWARE

MARYLAND PENNSYLVANIA VIRGINIA

WESTVIRGINIA

*Nonvegetated Wetlands

Seasonally flooded forested wetland .

Irregularly flooded coastal marsh.

INLAND VEGETATED WETLANDSCOASTAL VEGETATED WETLANDS

0 TIDAL FLATS/BEACHESF FRESHWATER PONDS*

Ralph T-,

Over half of the region's wetlands are located near the coast,where all of the coastal wetlands and about half of the inlandwetlands are found. Virginia has almost half of the region'swetlands .

Wetland DistributionBy State

Wetland Distribution By Physiographic Region

PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONSCOASTAL ZONE

0 LOWER COASTAL ZONEUPPER COASTAL ZONE

0 PIEDMONTAPPALACHIAN HIGHLANDSMIDDLE WESTERN UPLAND PLAIN

1~1 ADIRONDACK-NEWENGLAND HIGHLANDS

W etlands are changing naturalenvironments subjected to both

human-induced and natural forces . Theseforces result in wetland gains and lossesand affect the quality of the remainingwetlands . Major causes of wetland changeare outlined below :

Human-induced Actions1 .

Agriculture-draining and clearingwetlands for crop production .

2 .

Pond and lake construction-impounding or excavating andflooding wetlands for water supply,flood protection, recreation, and otherpurposes.

RECENT WETLANDTRENDS

3 .

Urban development-filling wetlandsfor houses, industrial facilities, ports,commercial buildings, highways, wastedisposal, airports, and other purposes .

4.

Other development-mainly dredgingor channelizing (excavating) wetlandsfor navigation and flood protectionwhich often facilitates timber harvestor wetland conversion to farmlandand urbanland; silviculture; peat, coal,sand and gravel mining and oil andgas extraction to lesser extents ; andaltering natural drainage patterns .

5 .

Coastal impoundment construction-diking and flooding coastal wetlandsto create brackish water impoundments

for waterfowl use or other purposes .6 .

Pollution-degrading the quality ofwetlands by direct or indirectdischarge of various materialsincluding pesticides, herbicides, otherchemicals, sediment, domestic sewage,and agricultural wastes .

Natural Forcesl .

Subsidence of coastal areas related torising sea level .

2 .

Natural succession from one wetlandtype to another .

3 .

Erosion and accretion .

Aserious threat to wetlands is excavation and filling operation's .

Ditching wetlands alters natural drainage patterns and may significantlychange wetland functions.

16

Iiiii zmru

Channeliza.tion projects often accelerate conversion of wetlands tofarmlands.

L'SF1k :S

4.

Animal actions-e.g ., beaverimpoundments and muskrat andgoose "eat-outs."

5. Droughts .6.

Hurricanes and other major storms .

Ralph Tine,

Human actions are particularly significantin determining the fate of wetlands . Unfor-tunately, many human activities aredestructive to wetlands, either convertingthem to agricultural or other lands ordegrading their quality by pollution. A fewactions do, however, create wetlands .Construction of farm ponds in uplandareas may increase wetland acreage.Restoration of previously drained wetlandscan also be beneficial . Wetland protectionefforts serve to help maintain and enhanceour wetland resources, despite mountingpressures to convert them to other uses .

The best available estimates for recentwetland changes in the five states and theChesapeake Bay watershed are illustratedon the following pages.

l-1 ctlan(L, ore still being useci t» sumac J)"Ol'tc t«dispose of waste products .

meadow of soft rush before (a) and after plowing (b).

Noloh "a"

Some wetlands are particularly tulnerable to agricultural conterswtt ciurmg drY pertmis. 'W'et

17

Wetland TrendsDELAWARE

COASTAL WETLANDSO INLAND VEGETATED WETLANDS

FRESHWATER PONDS

CAUSES OF COASTAL WETLAND LOSSES

Urban development of coastal wetlands caused almost two-thirds of the state's losses of these wetlands . Many coastalwetlands were also converted to coastal waters by coastalimpoundments, dredging projects, and rising sea level .

Between 1955 and 1981, Delaware lost about 42,000 acres ofcoastal wetlands and inland vegetated wetlands, for anaverage annual loss of 1,600 acres . During this time, pondacreage increased by 2,000 acres for a 400 percent gain . Thevast majority of the wetland losses involved inland wetlands,particularly forested wetlands which decreased by about 17percent . Statewide, 21 percent of Delaware's inland vegetatedwetlands and six percent of its coastal wetlands recentlydisappeared .

CAUSES OF INLAND VEGETATED WETLAND LOSSES

Other development, mainly channelization and ditchingprojects related to agriculture, were responsible for over 50percent of the recent losses of inland marshes and swamps .Direct conversion of wetland to farmland caused 28 percentof the losses .

Urban

w r~U Wa

U

0

GAINS

+20 -7i

+10-

Wetland TrendsMARYLAND

-9.0

+14.4


Other development (mostly channelization and ditchingprojects related to farmland) and agriculture caused nearlytwo-thirds of Maryland's recent loss of inland vegetatedwetlands . Pond and lake construction was responsible forslightly more than one-quarter of the losses, while urbandevelopment caused eight percent of the losses .

0 COASTAL WETLANDSINLAND VEGETATED WETLANDS

0 FRESHWATER PONDS

Between 1955 and 1978, about 24,000 acres of Maryland'scoastal wetlands and inland vegetated wetlands disappeared,representing a five percent loss . Annual losses of thesewetlands averaged about 1,000 acres . Inland vegetatedwetlands decreased by six percent, while coastal vegetatedwetlands fell by slightly more than eight percent . Roughly 91percent of the inland vegetated wetland losses occurred in theLower Coastal Plain region . Coastal and inland emergentwetlands were the most threatened types . In contrast to theselosses, pond acreage increased by about 365 percent .


Almost three-quarters of the loss of Maryland's coastalwetlands was the result of coastal impoundments, dredgingprojects, and rising sea level. Filling for urban developmentcaused ten percent of the losses .

+40 -~

+30-.4-

-to-

-20-

-30 -


Lakes

-27.8

+37.3

Other Development

Wetland TrendsPENNSYLVANIA

Ponds

INLAND VEGETATED WETLANDS0 FRESHWATER PONDS

Between 1956 and 1979, Pennsylvania experienced a net lossof nearly 28,000 acres of inland vegetated wetlands, for a sixpercent loss . Over 1,200 acres were lost annually, on average .Emergent wetlands were hardest hit with a 38 percent loss .Vegetated wetland losses were greatest in the northernsection of the Pocono region which lost 15 percent of itswetlands . Pond acreage recently increased by about 130 per-cent .

Pond construction was the greatest cause of vegetatedwetland loss in Pennsylvania . Other development (includingchannelization and peat mining) was responsible for nearly aquarter of the recent losses . Peat mining in the Poconoregion may also be responsible for a considerable amount ofthe losses due to pond and lake construction .

Peat mining in the Poconns.

GAINS

LOSSES

Direct conversion of wetlands to cropland was the majorcause of inland wetland loss, while other development(mainly channelization projects) and lake and pond construc-tion were also major loss factors .

Wetland TrendsVIRGINIA+40

+30

+20

+10

0

-10

-20

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-60



D COASTAL WETLANDSINLAND VEGETATED WETLANDS

D FRESHWATER PONDS

Between 1956 and 1977, over 63,000 acres of Virginia'scoastal wetlands and inland vegetated wetlands were lost, fora six percent loss . Annual losses of these wetlands averagedabout 3,000 acres. Inland forested wetlands were mostthreatened, experiencing a nine percent loss in 21 years .Inland vegetated wetland loss was greatest in the LowerCoastal Plain region where about 14 percent of thesewetlands were destroyed . Losses in this region accounted for80 percent of the state's inland vegetated wetland losses . Instark contrast to other wetland losses, pond acreage increasedby about 170 percent .

Agriculture

Urban development had the biggest impact on coastalwetlands . Loss of coastal wetland to estuarine waters throughimpoundments, dredging projects, and sea level rise was alsosignificant .

GAINS

LOSSES

Wetland TrendsWEST VIRGINIA

FORESTED AND SHRUB WETLANDSC~ EMERGENT WETLANDSD FRESHWATER PONDS

Best available estimates of West Virginia wetland trends for1957 to 1980 suggest : (1) nearly a 6,000 acre loss of emergentwetlands which amounts to a 22 percent loss and (2) anincrease in forested and shrub wetlands and freshwaterponds. Most of the emergent wetland loss was to shrubwetlands, accounting for much of the gain in this type, whileforested wetlands increased largely at the expense of shrubwetlands . Pond acreage increased by about 225 percent.


Urban

Other development (including channelization projects) waslargely responsible for recent losses of West Virginia's wetlands .Pond construction in wetlands was also significant .

Wetland TrendsCHESAPEAKEWATERSHED

GAINS

-20O LOSSES -IV

+60--

+50

+40--

+30

+20

+10

0

-10--+--

-40

-50-4-

-60--4--54.6

+57.0

Cl COASTAL WETLANDS0 INLAND VEGETATED WETLANDS

FRESHWATER PONDS

The Chesapeake Bay watershed experienced substantial lossesof coastal wetlands and inland vegetated wetlands betweenthe mid-1950's and late 1970's . Annual losses of these typesaveraged over 2,800 acres . Coastal marshes declined by aboutnine percent, while inland vegetated wetlands fell by sixpercent . Coastal and inland emergent wetlands were themost threatened types in the basin . Recently, pond acreageincreased by nearly 170 percent .


Agriculture and other development (mainly channelizationrelated to farming) were equally responsible for nearly 60 per-cent of the inland vegetated wetland losses. Pond and lakeconstruction was also significant, whereas urban developmenthad less impact .


Loss of coastal wetlands to estuarine waters was the mostsignificant factor . This resulted from a combination ofhuman and natural actions, including coastal impoundments,dredging projects, and the natural rise of sea level . Urbandevelopment was responsible for about one-fifth of thecoastal wetland losses . Coastal wetlands experienced heavylosses prior to the early 1970's, before federal and state lawswere enacted to control development of these wetlands.

+40

GAINS

+30

+20

-30

LOSSES

-40

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-60

Between the mid-1950's and the late1970's, the five-state region lost seven per-cent of its inland vegetated wetlands andsix percent of its coastal marshes . The lossof about 133,000 acres of inland vegetatedwetlands amounts to an area one-tenth of

Wetland TrendsREGIONAL OVERVIEW

the size of Delaware or three times the sizeof Washington, D.C . Virginia experiencedthe greatest recent losses of inlandvegetated wetlands, while coastal wetlandswere most threatened in Maryland .Delaware lost the highest percentage

COASTAL WETLAND LOSS

INLAND VEGETATED WETLAND GAINrT--1INLAND VEGETATED WETLAND LOSSFRESHWATER POND GAIN

(21 percent) of inland vegetated wetlands .West Virginia was the only state with anestimated increased in vegetated wetlands .Pennsylvania had the biggest gain infreshwater ponds .

®MOWRR06E

,SUSQUEHANNA .

KING GEORGERw

OO KINGSGEORGE~

S,',-ROLINE S! V\n ~ k.( BOWLING GREEEII

9~HANOVER\

O G_.yam. ~r\~~~RICHMOND

\1'EGJ

F<0

7i_

c

0F I

Teer~LD

?, rCHESPRINCE

GEORGE

~' DINwIDDIE 1

O

SURPYOpAINCE GESAGE

~7UN[NANNOC[ n

~~/I

0

z

"sTROummG

-ESTi

MnRELAND ~`

NORTHUMBERLAk taArRSVntE. .~O

ELIZABETHHAMPTON

PR~~

NORFOLK

,E .

Q

44

0 14 % Loss of InlandVegetated Wetlands in

v

this area, accountingfor 80 % of Virginia's

CITY

ACCOIMC

15 % Loss of VegetatedWetlands in this area,accounting for 19% ofPennsylvania's Losses .

H E

C I L

E N T

S W i C O~0~-~~ SALISHUAY(

12 % Loss of InlandVegetated Wetlands inthis area of Maryland.

80% of Maryland'sInland VegetatedWetland Losses inthis area .

21 % Loss ofDelaware's InlandVegetated Wetlands .

(1flAN'ANF'

HAY

ATLINTIC

OG,IN

Inland vegetated wetland losses wereheaviest in the Lower Coastal Plain areawhere nearly three-quarters of the five-stateregion's losses took place . Agricultural con-version of these wetlands and associatedchannelization projects were the majorreasons for these changes .

25

W e have seen that significant wetlandlosses have recently taken place in

the Mid-Atlantic region . We know thatthey represent losses of valuable naturalresources and not simply losses ofwastelands as once believed . So, what isbeing done to protect our remainingwetlands? In general, there are two widelyused approaches to wetland protection : (1)acquisition of wetlands and (2) regulationof wetland uses . Acquisition involvespurchasing wetlands or easements onwetlands and establishing wildlife refuges,sanctuaries, or conservation areas . Thisapproach is used by government agenciesand private conservation organizations .Funding for these efforts, however, islimited and we cannot expect that all ofthe remaining wetlands can be protectedby acquisition . Regulations that controlvarious uses of wetlands are, therefore,vital to protecting wetlands and saving thevalues they provide. Federal, state, andlocal governments may, through existinglaws or ordinances, require that anyoneplanning construction or other develop-ment activities in wetlands obtain a permitor other approvals prior to initiating work .In the 1970's, several Mid-Atlantic statesand the federal government enacted lawsto regulate wetland uses . For the mostpart, however, these laws are not com-prehensive in scope, since they mayregulate only a specified number ofactivities adversely impacting wetlandsand/or apply to only certain wetlandtypes . For example, normal agriculturalactivities are exempt from most regulatoryrequirements . At the federal level, the U.S .Army Corps of Engineers regulateswetland uses to varying degrees . For inlandwetlands, the deposition of fill materialoften requires a federal permit, while ex-cavation of wetlands is generally exemptedfrom permit requirements . Filling of coastalwetlands is also regulated and excavationin these wetlands may require a permitunder certain circumstances . At the statelevel, Pennsylvania is the only Mid-Atlantic state to have statewide wetlandregulations. Delaware, Maryland, andVirginia have laws to protect coastal

26

THE FUTURE OFMID-ATLANTIC WETLANDS

wetlands which have significantly reducedlosses of these wetlands, but they have nosimilar protection for inland wetlands .Despite the best efforts of the existingregulations, wetland losses, especially ofinland wetlands, will continue as ourpopulation increases and demand for food,timber, and real estate rises . Even if losseswere controlled, the problem of degradingthe quality of wetlands through pollution,urban encroachment, partial drainage andother actions still needs to be addressed.

What can be done to slow the rate ofwetland loss and to improve the quality ofour remaining wetlands? Many opportuni-ties exist for private citizens, corporations,government agencies, and others to helpaccomplish these objectives . Cooperationbetween public agencies and privatecitizens and the private sector is essentialto securing a promising future for ourwetlands. Individual landowners and cor-porations are in a key position to

determine the fate of wetlands on theirproperties . Every citizen, landowner ornot, can help wetlands by supporting anynumber of wetland conservationinitiatives. Major public and privateoptions for improving the status ofwetlands are listed below :

PUBLIC OPTIONS :1 .

Develop a consistent public policy toprotect wetlands of national, state,and local significance.

2 .

Strengthen federal, state and localwetland protection .

3 .

Ensure proper implementation ofexisting laws and policies throughadequate staffing, surveillance,enforcement, and training .

4 .

Increase wetland acquisition inselected areas for preservation pur-poses.

5 .

Remove government subsidies thatencourage wetland drainage anddestruction .

K"Iph I "",

Wetlands are valuable resources-natural treasures .

6 .

Provide tax and other incentives toprivate landowners and industry topromote wetland preservation andremove existing tax benefits thatencourage wetland destruction .

7 .

Scrutinize cost-benefit analyses andjustifications for flood control projectsthat involve channelization ofwetlands and watercourses .

8 .

Improve wetland management onpublicly-owned lands .

9.

Increase the number of marshcreation and restoration projects(including enhancement of existingwetlands by improving local waterquality and establishing buffer zones),especially related to mitigation forunavoidable wetland losses by govern-ment-sponsored water resource pro-jects .

10 . Monitor wetland changes especiallywith reference to the effectiveness ofstate and federal wetland protectionefforts and periodically update theNational Wetlands Inventory mappingin problem areas.

11 . Increase public awareness of wetlandvalues and the status . of wetlandsthrough various media .

Options for the future-the choice is ours .

12 . Conduct research to increase ourknowledge of wetland values and toidentify ways of using wetlands thatare least disruptive to their ecologyand public values .

PRIVATE OPTIONS:l .

Rather than drain or fill wetlands,seek compatible uses involvingminimal wetland alteration, such asselective timber harvest, waterfowlproduction, fur harvest, hay andforage, wild rice production, andhunting and trapping leases .

2 .

Seek non-wetland sites fordevelopment projects and avoidwetland alteration or degradationduring project construction .

3 .

Donate wetlands or funds forpurchasing wetlands to private orpublic conservation agencies .

4 .

Maintain wetlands as open space .5 .

Work in concert with governmentagencies to inform the public aboutwetland values .

6 .

Construct ponds in uplands andmanage for wetland and aquaticspecies .

Ralph Ti-

7 .

Purchase federal and state duckstamps to support wetland acquisition .

8.

Support various wetland conservationinitiatives by public agencies andprivate organizations .

Wetlands are an important part of ournational heritage. In many ways, they arediamonds-in-the-rough . Our quality of lifeis largely dependent on our nation's wealthof natural resources and wetlands are thevital link between our land and waterresources . Serious attention must be givento minimizing adverse wetland impacts inour efforts to improve our economic andpersonal well-being . As wetlands are lost,the remaining wetlands become even morevaluable. We have already lost over half ofour nation's wetlands since America wasfirst settled . We must now take positivesteps to protect wetlands to ensure thatthe values they now provide will bepreserved for future generations .

KA, Drake

1,'ARflfflil :"-,rE1~~r~.rAl

M any people have contributed to thepublication of this document . Jim

Butch (EPA-Region III) served as projectofficer and provided comments on thedraft manuscript. Other reviewers includedDr . Jack Finn (University of Mass-achusetts), Dr. Gregor Auble, InezConnor, Charles Kulp, Dr . Bill Wilen, Dr.Donald Woodard, and Bill Zinni (FWS),Bill Hoffinan, Nels Barrett, Patty Weber,and Randy Pomponio (EPA), DavidHardin (formerly Delaware Dept . ofNatural Resources and EnvironmentalControl), Khervin Smith and Shamus

FOR INFORMATION ON FEDERAL AND STATE WETLAND REGULATIONS CONTACT THEFOLLOWING AGENCIES:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Malone (Pennsylvania Dept . of Environ-mental Resources), Harold Cassell(Maryland Water Resources Administra-tion), Norman Larsen (Virginia MarineResources Commission), and Dr . GeneSilberhorn (Virginia Institute of MarineScience) .

Information on wetland status and trendsfor this region was largely the result of thediligent efforts of photo interpreters andcartographers at the Department ofForestry and Wildlife Management,University of Massachusetts, Amherst,

Delaware Department of NaturalResources and EnvironmentalControl

Division of Wetlands andUnderwater LandsP.O . Box 1401Dover, DE 19903(302) 736-4691

Maryland Department of NaturalResources

Water Resources AdministrationTawes State Office BuildingAnnapolis, MD 21401(301) 269-3871

STATE

Pennsylvania Department ofEnvironmental Resources

Bureau of Dams and WaterwaysManagement

P.O . Box 2357Harrisburg, PA 17101(717) 787-6827

Virginia Marine ResourcesCommission

P.O. Box 756Newport News, VA 23607(804) 247-2200

especially : John LeBlanc, GailShaughnessy, Edwin Howes, MariaMpelkes, Michael Broschart, LawrenceOliver, David Wilkie, Dennis Swartwout,and Amy Hogeland . Lynn Hayes andJoanne Kalin (FWS) assisted by typingfinal and draft manuscripts, respectively .Mary O'Connor and Libby Hopkins helpedwith graphics support . This booklet wasdesigned and illustrated by Wayne Geehan .The efforts of these people and others aregreatly appreciated.

District EngineerWilmington District,Corps of EngineersP .O . Box 1890Wilmington, NC 28401(919) 343-4629

District EngineerBuffalo District,Corps of Engineers1776 Niagara StreetBuffalo, NY 14207(716) 876-5454

(215) 597-1182 (215) 597-2812 (304) 529-5487

U.S . Army Corps of EngineersDistrict Engineer District Engineer

District Engineer Pittsburgh District, Norfolk District,Baltimore District, Corps of Engineers Corps of EngineersCorps of Engineers Federal Building Fort Norfolk,P.O . Box 1715 1000 Liberty Avenue 803 Front StreetBaltimore, MD 21203 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Norfolk, VA 23510(301) 962-3670 (412) 644-4204 (804) 441-3652

FEDERAL

U.S . Environmental Protection District Engineer District EngineerAgency Philadelphia District, Huntington District,

Wetlands and Marine Policy Corps of Engineers Corps of EngineersSection Custom House, New Federal Building

841 Chestnut Building 2nd & Chestnut Streets 502 Eighth StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19107 Philadelphia, PA 19106 Huntington, WV 25701-2070

TAKE PRIDE IN AMERICAHELP PROTECT OURNATION'S WETLANDS

Eli,, Smith

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