Widseth Blog

World Wetlands Day is Today, February 2nd. Learn Why Wetlands Are Important.

Written by Mike Pederson, CMWP - Environmental Scientist | Feb 2, 2023 2:30:00 PM

Only 2.5% of all water on Earth is freshwater. Wetlands hold most of this water and naturally filter out a variety of pollutants. They are also home to 40% of all the species in the world. Plus, under certain conditions and scenarios, wetlands can hold water that would otherwise add to downstream flooding. Wetlands are very important, which is why they need to be maintained and restored.

What exactly is a wetland? Wetlands are areas of land that hold water or become flooded permanently or seasonally. Inland wetlands include marshes, ponds, and bogs among others. Coastal wetlands include estuaries, lagoons, and even coral reefs. Visit worldwetlandsday.org to learn more about wetlands and the important role they play in our freshwater ecosystem.

At Widseth, our environmental services team includes certified wetland delineators. We excel at finding the boundaries of wetlands and determining the wetland type. We also understand the rules and regulations that protect wetlands and how to obtain permits for impacts to wetlands. In addition to wetland expertise, we also have a strong background in the supporting sciences of hydrology, soil science, and ecology. Our staff is trained in current field methods, restoration and creation technologies, and regulatory compliance assistance.