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Importance of WetlandsWetland functions and services Wetlands perform many services that are beneficial to the people that live near them. Wetlands are sometimes called “ecological supermarkets” because of the rich biodiversity and extensive food webs they support. Indeed, many organisms that we enjoy observing and hunting are dependent upon wetlands for at least some part of their lifecycle (e.g. nesting, breeding, foraging and migrating). Many amphibians, shorebirds, waterfowl, songbirds, mammals, and insects need to utilize wetlands for food or reproduction. Wetlands are also called the “kidneys of the landscape” because of their ability to clean polluted water. Additionally wetlands are often important locations for the recharge of groundwater, which can then be used as drinking water or irrigation as well as a supply of water to other aquatic habitats (e.g. rivers and lakes). Furthermore, wetlands surrounding rivers can store water and reduce the impacts of flood events to surrounding human development. For more information about the types of wetlands in Oklahoma and their importance click the links below:
Identifying wetlands Wetlands are areas where saturation with water is a dominant factor in determining soil development and the communities of plants and animals present. Wetlands are often transitional between upland habitats such as grasslands and forests and aquatic habitats such as lakes and rivers. Along reservoirs, ponds and lakes wetlands often form a fringe between the deepwater and the surrounding uplands. Rivers and streams are often associated with wetlands that are directly adjacent to the channel, such as riparian wetlands and wetlands that receive their water when the river floods, such as floodplain wetlands. However, wetlands can occur in the absence of permanent aquatic habitat.In Oklahoma, wetlands are common in topographic “low-spots”, where surface water accumulates, or groundwater discharges to the surface for at least a portion of the growing season. Additionally, wetlands may form where slopes intersect the groundwater table and groundwater discharges to the surface. Wetlands occur throughout Oklahoma and many are on private land. If you think you may have a wetland on your property, you can look at a digital wetland map managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These maps were created based on visual interpretation of aerial photographs and many not have been ground-truthed. Therefore, a mapped wetland on your property does not guarantee that you actually have a wetland on your property. Contrarily, the absence of a mapped wetland does not mean you do not have a wetland. If you need a more concrete determination of the status of a wetland, you can contact a company that offers wetland delineation as one of its services. |
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