Wetland
A wetland is an area where water covers or saturates the soil long enough to support water-tolerant plants and shape distinctive soils and ecosystems.
Hydrology: The study of water’s movement, distribution, and properties on Earth and in the atmosphere. The timing, depth, and source of water determine how a wetland functions.
Denitrification: The microbial conversion of nitrate into gaseous nitrogen compounds under low-oxygen conditions. Wetland soils can remove nitrate from water through this process.
Constructed wetland: An engineered system that uses wetland-like conditions to treat water or manage runoff. It applies wetland processes to wastewater treatment and stormwater control.
Marsh: A wetland dominated by herbaceous plants such as grasses, sedges, or reeds. Marshes are open wetlands where non-woody vegetation predominates.
Wetland loss: The disappearance or conversion of wetland area through drainage, development, or other changes. Conversion removes habitat and can reduce water storage and other wetland functions.
Hydric soil: Soil that forms under prolonged saturation or flooding, creating oxygen-poor conditions. Its physical and chemical signs help identify land shaped by wetland saturation.
Carbon sequestration: The capture and long-term storage of carbon in plants, soils, or other reservoirs. Waterlogged soils slow decomposition and can accumulate carbon-rich organic matter.
Nature-based solutions: Actions that protect, restore, or manage ecosystems to address societal challenges. Wetland conservation and restoration can reduce flood risk while supporting biodiversity.
Swamp: A wetland dominated by trees or shrubs and commonly subject to flooding or saturation. Woody vegetation distinguishes swamps from herbaceous marshes.
Biodiversity: The variety of life across genes, species, and ecosystems. Wetlands support distinctive species and provide breeding or feeding habitat for many others.