| River's Edge Homepage | Current
Management
Seasonally flooded basins or flats 1, 134,000 Inland fresh meadows 2, 383,300 Inland shallow fresh marshes 758,500 Inland deep fresh marshes 427,700 Inland open fresh water 1,000,2000 Shrub swamps 2,912,400 Wooded swamps 2, 106, 700 Bogs 477,300 Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Report Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates "the discharge of dredged and fill material into all waterways" must have a permit issued by the Corp of Engineers under EPA guidelines. In 1977, reauthorization of the Act occurred, which gave explicit powers to the Corp for jurisdiction over waters in interstate navigation, "including wetlands adjacent thereto" (League 21). When the Corp of engineers receives an application to fill a wetland for development, it is evaluated using section 404 (b) (1) guidelines. These guidelines were developed by the EPA and determine if the project is of public interest. In 1989, the state of Illinois passed the Interagency Wetland Policy Act, which establishes a "no net loss policy" also referred to as wetland mitigation. If someone drains a wetland, they must make an equivalent wetland that fulfills the same type and function of the drained one. In the 10 states the Mississippi runs through, Sixty-seven percent of the wetlands have been lost to development (League 16). The percentage lost in Illinois alone is 89% or 1, 254, 500 acres (League 17). Since the realization of the importance of wetland conservation, many thing have been done to ensure that no further wetlands are lost or injured. Education is the key. Mitigation can only be successful if people take the time to understand the spatial and functional distribution of wetlands. The section 404 program has done some good. Although 240, 000 acres are still lost annually, it has saved an estimated 50,000 acres a year (League 23). |
