Watersheds and Wetlands

Healthy watersheds and wetlands provide a host of ecological services, including water purification, ground water and surface flow regulation, wildlife habitat, flood and surge impact reduction, water temperature moderation, erosion control, and stream bank stabilization. They also store carbon and sequester other greenhouse gases. These ecosystems are already threatened by a number of stressors, and climate change will further exacerbate this situation.

Numerous resources and tools related to watersheds and wetlands are available: explore our resources.

What EPA Is Doing

The Healthy Watersheds Initiative encourages states, local governments, watershed organizations, and others to take a strategic systems approach to conserving healthy watersheds, with a goal of protecting high-quality waters and preventing future water quality impairments.

The National Wetland Condition Assessment is a statistical survey of the quality of our Nation’s wetlands. During the summer of 2011, field crews collected data at over 1,179 sites, from Florida to Alaska. Field samples are being processed to assure the quality of the data collected, and then analyzed. A report detailing the results of this survey will be released in 2013.

Watershed Central provides state, local, and voluntary watershed management entities with the key tools, resources, guidance, and datasets to aide in a successful watershed management.

Working With Our Partners

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency providing information to the public on the status of the nation’s wetlands. The Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a series of maps to show wetlands and deepwater habitats. This geospatial information is used by federal, state, and local agencies; academic institutions; and private industry for management, research, policy development, education, and planning activities.

Through WaterSMART, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation works with states, tribes, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to pursue a sustainable water supply for the nation. It establishes a framework to provide federal leadership and assistance on the efficient use of water, integrates water and energy policies to support the sustainable use of all natural resources, and coordinates water conservation activities.

The U.S. Forest Service has programs in watershed restoration, water rights and uses, surface water, ground water, and riparian areas and wetlands. Program leaders support regional and field scientists and managers as well as line officers by providing technical guidance to conserve, protect, and restore the soil, riparian, water, and aquatic resources of national forests and grasslands.