Wetlands Program

The National Park Service manages over 16 million acres of wetlands.

The Wetlands Program provides leadership and technical expertise for protection and management of wetlands in the national parks. These biologically diverse ecosystems provide fish and wildlife habitat, erosion control, and other critical ecological functions in virtually all of our parks. Their aesthetic appeal, recreational opprtunities, and cultural landscape contributions make wetlands an integral part of the visitor experience. In keeping the NPS no-net-loss of wetlands policy, Program staff assure that wetland impacts associated with NPS activities are kept to a minimum. Our wetland scientists provide technical assistance to parks in all aspects of wetland and riparian restoration, condition assessment, environmental compliance, inventory, and protection projects.