Wetlands
The term wetlands refers to coastal areas that sit between upland regions and deep-water environments. These areas are critical for both coastal communities and wildlife. Wetlands provide important habitat for numerous species and are an essential form of protection against storms.
What Defines a Wetland?
Hydric Soil
Hydrophytic Vegetation
Hydrophytic Vegetation
Hydric soil refers to the wet soils found in wetlands. In wetlands, the soil is saturated. The saturated soil has a slower decomposition rate which results in a thick accumulation of peat/muck at the surface.
Hydrophytic Vegetation
Hydrophytic Vegetation
Hydrophytic Vegetation
Hydrophytic vegetation refers to vegetation adapted to living in low oxygen soil found in wetlands. Hydrophytic vegetation can also withstand long periods of flooding or being submerged.
Hydrology
Hydrophytic Vegetation
Hydrology
Wetlands have a set hydrologic cycle that allows for water flow through the system. Water sources include stream flow, tidal flows, groundwater discharge, or percipatation.
Wetlands as an Ecosystem
Wetland Ecosystems
There are many types of wetland ecosystems. What makes wetland ecosystems unique is that they are placed on the interface of the ocean and land. These coastal areas are home to numerous species. In New Jersey, wetlands consist of large plant communities. Plant communities are often described as high or low marsh depending on their tolerance for being submerged. Wetlands provide habitat to an extensive network of birds and mammals. The ecosystem benefits of wetlands extend underwater where juvenile fish live near the marshes for shelter.
Wetlands as Coastal Protection
Flood Protection
Wetlands are an important source of protection against coastal flooding. Wetlands help protect against coastal flooding by acting as a sponge. Wetlands have great storage capacity of water and can absorb significant amounts of floodwater.
Erosion Protection
Wetlands help anchor shorelines and protect against erosion. Wetlands protect against erosion by stabilizing the soil and by attenuating incoming wave energy. These factors combined make shorelines with wetlands more resilient than bare soil.
Financial Benefit of Wetlands
Wetlands have been found to outperform traditional hard engineered infrastructure during storm events. Furthermore, wetland restoration is more economically efficient than traditional coastal infrastructure. Depending on local conditions, restoring reefs and marshes can save significant amounts of funding in coastal areas.
Wetland Loss
Coastal Squeeze
Coastal areas are very dynamic regions. As sea levels rise wetlands migrate landward. However, due to development and the presence of coastal infrastructure, wetlands are not able to migrate as far landward as they could previously. Instead, wetlands are being trapped between developed areas and rising sea levels. As a result, many wetlands are eroding and disappearing entirely. When wetlands can't retreat landward and are eroded, it is referred to as coastal squeeze. Coastal squeeze represents a major problem for coastal managers globally. For more information on coastal squeeze, click the button below.
Are Wetlands Protected?
Wetlands are protected under various legislation at different levels of government. The most important federal regulation for wetlands is the Clean Water Act. In new Jersey wetlands are protected by the Watershed and Land management division of the NJDEP under the state's Coastal Zone Management Program. For more information on how New Jersey manages and protects its wetlands, click the button below.