Wetlands Are Nature's Water Filter
Before water reaches your home, wetlands do some heavy lifting. Wetland plants, soils, and microorganisms naturally trap and break down pollutants, excess nutrients, and sediments before they reach rivers, lakes, and groundwater supplies. It's a filtration system so effective that it would cost billions of dollars to replicate artificially.
The numbers: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that wetlands provide water quality benefits valued at $23.2 billion per year. In some regions, replacing wetland filtration with man-made water treatment infrastructure would cost communities $4,500 to $7,500 per acre per year. Healthy wetlands also help recharge underground aquifers, the source of drinking water for more than 117 million Americans.
Wetlands Are Nature's Best Defense Against Floods and Storms
When heavy rains hit, or a hurricane makes landfall, wetlands work overtime to protect us. Acting as natural sponges, they absorb and slowly release floodwater, reducing the severity of downstream flooding. On the coast, they absorb storm surge and wave energy, stabilizing shorelines, and stand between our communities and the full destructive force of major storms.
America’s coastlines are home to more than 130 million people facing growing threats from rising seas, intensifying storms, and coastal erosion. Coastal wetlands, such as salt marshes, mangroves, and tidal flats, serve as the first line of defense for communities.
The numbers: A single acre of wetlands can store up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater. The EPA estimates that wetlands in the U.S. provide flood protection services worth approximately $23.6 billion annually. Every mile of coastal marsh reduces storm surge flooding by an average of nine inches, a finding echoed by post-Katrina research showing that wetland loss in coastal Louisiana directly worsened storm surge damage. Meanwhile, a recent study on the global values of wetlands for storm protection found that their protection value was estimated at $447 billion annually.
Wetlands Are an Outdoor Recreation Paradise
Whether you're a hunter, angler, birdwatcher, kayaker, or hiker, wetlands are calling your name. More than 80 million Americans participate in wildlife-related recreation each year, and wetlands are among the most popular destinations for those pursuits.
The numbers: Wildlife-related recreation, hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching generate over $156 billion in economic activity annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Freshwater fishing alone contributes $38 billion to the U.S. economy each year. Wetland-dependent bird watching is practiced by more than 45 million Americans, making it one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities in the country. And waterfowl hunters contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to conservation through licenses, stamps, and excise taxes.
If you love the outdoors, you love wetlands — whether you know it or not.
Wetlands House an Extraordinary Array of Wildlife
No ecosystem on earth supports a greater concentration of life per acre than a wetland. From migratory songbirds to rare amphibians, from trophy bass to ancient alligators, wetlands are biodiversity hotspots that sustain thousands of species. For many of these animals, wetlands aren't just a habitat; they're the only habitat.
The numbers: Wetlands provide habitat for more than one-third of all threatened and endangered species in the United States. More than 50 percent of North America's migratory birds depend on wetlands for breeding, feeding, and nesting, including over 200 songbird species and virtually all waterfowl. Wetlands may cover only 6 percent of the Earth's surface, but they support over 40 percent of all plant and animal species.
Wetlands Boost the Economy
The economic case for wetlands extends well beyond hunting and fishing licenses. Wetlands support commercial fisheries, tourism industries, agricultural water supplies, and coastal real estate values. Healthy wetland systems underpin entire regional economies, particularly in coastal and rural communities.
The numbers: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates the total economic benefits of the nation's wetlands at over $100 billion per year, accounting for water quality, flood control, shoreline stabilization, wildlife support, and recreation. Commercial fisheries, worth more than $212 billion annually to the U.S. economy, depend heavily on estuarine and coastal wetlands as spawning and nursery habitat. An estimated 75 percent of commercially harvested fish and shellfish in the U.S. spend all or part of their life cycles in coastal wetland ecosystems.
Wetlands aren't just a conservation priority; they're an economic one.
What You Can Do
Whether it’s May or any time of year, there are multiple ways to take action:
Visit A Wetland Near You
Explore public lands or DU-supported conservation sites in your area. Observing wetlands firsthand is one of the best ways to understand their value.
Share the Message
Use your platform to share the importance and value of wetlands. Whether in a classroom, on social media, or in a duck blind, there’s always time for a conversation about conservation.
Become a DU Member or Donor
When you support Ducks Unlimited, you directly fund the habitat conservation work that benefits wildlife, water, and communities.
