Causes of Wetland Loss

We need our wetlands for many reasons. They are fragile and finite, a non- renewable natural resource. The many functions and values that they provide are more easily identified and appreciated today. This provides strong support for the protection and restoration of wetlands. During Colonial times the United States contained an estimated 221 million acres of wetlands. Today wetlands cover approximately 103 million acres, a loss of more than 50%. A combination of natural causes and human activity has caused this tremendous loss. Natural causes include subsidence, wave erosion, saltwater intrusion, sea level rise, and tropical storms and hurricanes. However, it is human activity that has been most detrimental to wetlands. Human activity has eliminated or converted millions of acres of wetlands for other uses. The nation's ever increasing population and growing need for food and housing fuel this activity. Wetlands are usually drained or altered to create more land for agricultural use or urban development. Canal, levee, and dam construction has also contributed to the loss or alteration of wetlands.