What Is A Wetland

A wetland is a distinct semi-aquatic ecosystem whose groundcovers are flooded or saturated in water, either permanently, for years or decades, or only seasonally. Flooding results in oxygen …

Apr 7, 2025 · Definition of a Wetland Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the …

Nov 21, 2025 · A wetland is a complex ecosystem characterized by flooding or saturation of the soil, which creates low-oxygen environments that favor a specialized assemblage of plants, …

Wetland habitats serve essential functions in an ecosystem, including acting as water filters, providing flood and erosion control, and furnishing food and homes for fish and wildlife.

A wetland is a place in which the land is covered by water—salt, fresh, or somewhere in between—either seasonally or permanently. It functions as its own distinct ecosystem.

The single feature that most wetlands share is soil or substrate that is at least periodically saturated with or covered by water. Learn more: USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

The amount of water present in a wetland can vary greatly. Some wetlands are permanently flooded, while others are only seasonally flooded but retain saturated soils throughout much of …

Jun 16, 2025 · A swamp is a wetland dominated by trees and shrubs, while a marsh is a wetland dominated by herbaceous (non-woody) plants like grasses, reeds, and cattails. Think of …

If water, salty or fresh, is present on top of or just below the soil, it’s a wetland. You’ll know you’re in a wetland when your shoe prints turn muddy and wet.

Oct 19, 2023 · A wetland is an area of land that is either covered by water or saturated with water.