Wetlands are areas where water is either near or at the soil surface for some part of the year or where the water fully covers the soil at any point during the year. A wetland can be home to various species, including both terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) divides wetlands into two categories — coastal and inland.
Coastal wetlands, also known as tidal wetlands, are located along the Alaskan, Gulf, Pacific and Atlantic coasts. They are connected to the country’s estuaries and often contain saltwater, as the freshwater from the rivers mixes with the saltwater from the sea or ocean. Because of the salinity of the water, most coastal wetlands are inhospitable environments for plant life, with some exceptions.
Inland wetlands, sometimes known as nontidal wetlands, often form along the floodplains of streams and rivers. They may also exist in depressions next to ponds and lakes or low-lying areas where groundwater rises to the soil surface. In some cases, inland wetlands develop when rain saturates the soil.
Since the water in an inland wetland is usually fresh, the areas are often lush with plant life. Examples include wooded swamps, wet meadows and marshes.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified three criteria an area must meet to be classified as a wetland. During a wetland assessment, an engineer will examine the following components:
Wetlands are areas where water is either near or at the soil surface for some part of the year or where the water fully covers the soil at any point during the year. A wetland can be home to various species, including both terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) divides wetlands into two categories — coastal and inland.
Coastal wetlands, also known as tidal wetlands, are located along the Alaskan, Gulf, Pacific and Atlantic coasts. They are connected to the country’s estuaries and often contain saltwater, as the freshwater from the rivers mixes with the saltwater from the sea or ocean. Because of the salinity of the water, most coastal wetlands are inhospitable environments for plant life, with some exceptions.
Inland wetlands, sometimes known as nontidal wetlands, often form along the floodplains of streams and rivers. They may also exist in depressions next to ponds and lakes or low-lying areas where groundwater rises to the soil surface. In some cases, inland wetlands develop when rain saturates the soil.
Since the water in an inland wetland is usually fresh, the areas are often lush with plant life. Examples include wooded swamps, wet meadows and marshes.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified three criteria an area must meet to be classified as a wetland. During a wetland assessment, an engineer will examine the following components: