Coastal Wetlands

By: Craig Portner

Wetlands are intrical parts of our natural environment. “Wetlands are areas where the land meets the water in a gradual transition, characterized by wet soils or by plants adapted to a wet environment; a variety of coastal areas are categorized as wetlands, including salt marshes, freshwater or brackish water marshes, shallow-water lagoons, tidal mudflats, salt flats, and fens.” (California Coastal Commission) Wetlands are important for many reasons. Unfortunately they are being developed and destroyed by people and organizations such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There are many ways that we can help the problem. Wetlands must be preserved for our future generations.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 51% of our country's wetlands are gone. In California, 91% are gone. The question is... why should we care? Coastal wetlands are very important to the environment. Wetlands are natural water filters. They protect our coastal waters from polluted run-off. When rain water runs from the land to the beach, it picks up many pollutants. The wetlands slow the flow of run-off. The sediments will settle to the bottom and the filtered water will have a chance to sink into the ground and replenish our drinking supplies. The roots of wetland plants will soak up heavy metals from the polluted runoff. Another reason why wetlands are so important is because they are flood control areas. Wetlands act as buffers between the water and the land. When wetlands are developed, flooding occurs. The Surfrider Foundation said that there are some areas that are flooded every year, and every year the destroyed houses are rebuilt (thanks to taxpayer funded flood insurance). An example of flooding due to the lack of wetlands was in Mississippi. In 1994 Mississippi had a massive flood which was the result of levees being built. These levees dried 66 million acres of wetlands. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spent billions of dollars trying to tame the Mississippi, only to lead to disaster. The third reason that wetlands are important to our environment is that they are nature’s nurseries. They are places where evolution takes place. Fish spawn and birds lay eggs in wetlands. Wetlands act as a resting place for birds on their north-south migration. Without wetlands species of birds and fish will become extinct. “Of the 10 species of birds and mammals listed by the Department of Fish and Game as endangered in California, 8 are either directly dependent on or somehow associated with wetlands; these include the salt marsh harvest mouse, the California clapper rail, and the California least tern.” (California Coastal Commission) Another reason that wetlands are important is because they are valuable. Replacing the costs of the natural pollution control functions of wetlands costs a lot of money. “If 50% of currently existing wetlands were destroyed, 684 million kg of additional nitrogen would contaminate our waters. The cost of removing this pollutant through sewage treatment plant upgrades would be $62.6 to $74.6 billion per year in the U.S” (Environmental Defense Fund) Finally, wetlands are great places for people to visit. Children and adults alike can learn a lot about nature in wetlands visitor areas. Wetlands are peaceful and unspoiled areas away from busy urban life. It is vital that we support efforts to preserve coastal wetlands and make efforts to create artificial wetlands.

Coastal wetlands are being destroyed at an alarming rate. In 1997 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a study that reported that 120,000 acres of wetlands were being developed each year. That is over a million acres every ten years! 55 acres of wetlands are developed daily. Even though wetlands are being deteriorated, in 1995 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to weaken The Clean Air Act’s (CAA) wetland protection. Fortunately the bill died in Senate. The government should be working towards greater wetland protection, rather than lesser. In addition to the Clean Air Act, other laws are being passed to stop wetland development. In 1997 a California Superior Judge ruled that the Coastal California Act prohibits any type of wetland development, even if the developer is involved in wetland restoration. This was an important ruling because in the past developers used the fact that they were involved in wetland restoration (which can never replace natural wetlands) as a loophole to develop the remaining 9% of California wetlands. 91% of California’s coastal wetlands have already been developed. Despite these rulings, small-scale wetlands destruction is routinely approved. “During fiscal year 1995, about 62,000 individuals applied for a Section 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge or fill in a wetland. Only 274 (0.5%) of the permits were denied, according to the Department of the Army.” (Clean Water Network) However, a step was made recently toward greater regulation of permit #26. As of July 2000, developers will have to apply for the permit for projects affecting one-half acre of wetlands or more. In the past the permit only applied to developers affecting 3 acres or more. Although this regulation is a step in the right direction, it will not help much if the Army Corps of Engineers continues to deny very few applicants. To add to the problem of wetland destruction, the sea level is rising. The sea level has rose 1 foot over the past century. This ocean rising is due to melting ice from global warming. A one foot rise in sea water can result in up to 1000 feet or more of retreating shoreline. This added to wetland development will result in entire beaches disappearing. To save our environment we must support legislation against wetland development.

As I said in the first paragraph, “The wetlands slow the flow of run-off. The sediments will settle to the bottom and the filtered water will have a chance to sink into the ground and replenish our drinking supplies. The roots of wetland plants will soak up heavy metals from the polluted runoff.” Polluted runoff is all of the contaminated water that flows off of the land. It comes from farms, yards, roads, and developed areas. For our U.S. coastal waters, polluted runoff has become the number #1 water pollution problem. Many beaches, such as those in Southern California, have coastal waters unsafe for human contact after EVERY runoff-generating rain. To solve the problem of polluted runoff, we need to change many of our individual and societal lifestyle habits.

There are many ways that we can help solve the problem of polluted runoff according to the Surfrider Foundation. First off, we can fix oil leaks in cars. Or better yet, don’t drive use mass transit. More oil ends up in the ocean from run-off than from oil tanker spills. Use nontoxic household products. Don’t use fertilizer or pesticides on your lawn. Clean up after your dog. Say NO to Styrofoam. Use less water when it rains. Local sewage treatment plants get backed up from heavy rains. Recycle, and if the material can’t be recycled don’t use it. You must also exercise your civic rights. Attend your City Council, City Planning, Coastal Commission and other local government meetings. Make written comments on Environmental impact reports. Join nonprofit groups such as the Surfrider Foundation to help make an impact. If you document an environmental issue in your area, organizations like the Surfrider Foundation will see if there is anything they can legally do to stop the problem. Exercise you political rights and vote. In becoming part of the solution we must think both locally and globally as well as stay informed.

The Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) released a report recently that said that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was one of the most wasteful programs of our government. The Corps of Engineers are constantly negatively affecting environmentally sensitive floodplains, watershed, and coastal areas of the U.S.. “The ongoing construction and maintenance of Corps dams, navigation channels, flood control structures, and other water development projects dramatically alter the nation's landscapes. Furthermore, this major government program costs federal taxpayers billions of dollars each year, often for economically unjustified activities.” (Taxpayers for Common Sense) The Corps of Engineers are a very hated group among environmentalists and surfers alike. Fellow surfers have told me that in the past (up to ten years ago) the Indian River Inlet, DE was the best break on the east coast. Surfers that have moved from the Delmarva area to California have said that they haven’t found a better barreling wave on the entire California coast. So what happened to this break? In 1990 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started dredging sand from the south side of the inlet to the north side. The result is small waves, nothing out of the ordinary. Fortunately the Clinton administration and key members of congress have advocated reform of the Corps. This overall movement toward a more responsible Corps is a common-sense goal shared by taxpayer advocates, conservationists, and local communities across the country. We must all do our part to preserve our nation’s coastal wetlands.

We must stop developers and organizations such as the U.S. Army Corps of engineers from destroying our natural wetlands. Wetlands are important for many reasons. We must not forget them or take them for granted. It is important that future generations be able to benefit from the beauty and recreation of our coastal waters and wildlife.

Bibliography

All information came from articles compiled on the Surfrider Foundation website. http://www.Surfrider.com

	Coastal Wetlands By: Craig Portner Wetlands are intrical parts of our natural environment. “Wetlands are areas where the land meets the water in a gradual transition, characterized by wet soils or by plants adapted to a wet environment; a variety of coastal areas are categorized as wetlands, including salt marshes, freshwater or brackish water marshes, shallow-water lagoons, tidal mudflats, salt flats, and fens.” (California Coastal Commission) Wetlands are important for many reasons. Unfortunately they are being developed and destroyed by people and organizations such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There are many ways that we can help the problem. Wetlands must be preserved for our future generations. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 51% of our country's wetlands are gone. In California, 91% are gone. The question is... why should we care? Coastal wetlands are very important to the environment. Wetlands are natural water filters. They protect our coastal waters from polluted run-off. When rain water runs from the land to the beach, it picks up many pollutants. The wetlands slow the flow of run-off. The sediments will settle to the bottom and the filtered water will have a chance to sink into the ground and replenish our drinking supplies. The roots of wetland plants will soak up heavy metals from the polluted runoff. Another reason why wetlands are so important is because they are flood control areas. Wetlands act as buffers between the water and the land. When wetlands are developed, flooding occurs. The Surfrider Foundation said that there are some areas that are flooded every year, and every year the destroyed houses are rebuilt (thanks to taxpayer funded flood insurance). An example of flooding due to the lack of wetlands was in Mississippi. In 1994 Mississippi had a massive flood which was the result of levees being built. These levees dried 66 million acres of wetlands. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spent billions of dollars trying to tame the Mississippi, only to lead to disaster. The third reason that wetlands are important to our environment is that they are nature’s nurseries. They are places where evolution takes place. Fish spawn and birds lay eggs in wetlands. Wetlands act as a resting place for birds on their north-south migration. Without wetlands species of birds and fish will become extinct. “Of the 10 species of birds and mammals listed by the Department of Fish and Game as endangered in California, 8 are either directly dependent on or somehow associated with wetlands; these include the salt marsh harvest mouse, the California clapper rail, and the California least tern.” (California Coastal Commission) Another reason that wetlands are important is because they are valuable. Replacing the costs of the natural pollution control functions of wetlands costs a lot of money. “If 50% of currently existing wetlands were destroyed, 684 million kg of additional nitrogen would contaminate our waters. The cost of removing this pollutant through sewage treatment plant upgrades would be $62.6 to $74.6 billion per year in the U.S” (Environmental Defense Fund) Finally, wetlands are great places for people to visit. Children and adults alike can learn a lot about nature in wetlands visitor areas. Wetlands are peaceful and unspoiled areas away from busy urban life. It is vital that we support efforts to preserve coastal wetlands and make efforts to create artificial wetlands. Coastal wetlands are being destroyed at an alarming rate. In 1997 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a study that reported that 120,000 acres of wetlands were being developed each year. That is over a million acres every ten years! 55 acres of wetlands are developed daily. Even though wetlands are being deteriorated, in 1995 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to weaken The Clean Air Act’s (CAA) wetland protection. Fortunately the bill died in Senate. The government should be working towards greater wetland protection, rather than lesser. In addition to the Clean Air Act, other laws are being passed to stop wetland development. In 1997 a California Superior Judge ruled that the Coastal California Act prohibits any type of wetland development, even if the developer is involved in wetland restoration. This was an important ruling because in the past developers used the fact that they were involved in wetland restoration (which can never replace natural wetlands) as a loophole to develop the remaining 9% of California wetlands. 91% of California’s coastal wetlands have already been developed. Despite these rulings, small-scale wetlands destruction is routinely approved. “During fiscal year 1995, about 62,000 individuals applied for a Section 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge or fill in a wetland. Only 274 (0.5%) of the permits were denied, according to the Department of the Army.” (Clean Water Network) However, a step was made recently toward greater regulation of permit #26. As of July 2000, developers will have to apply for the permit for projects affecting one-half acre of wetlands or more. In the past the permit only applied to developers affecting 3 acres or more. Although this regulation is a step in the right direction, it will not help much if the Army Corps of Engineers continues to deny very few applicants. To add to the problem of wetland destruction, the sea level is rising. The sea level has rose 1 foot over the past century. This ocean rising is due to melting ice from global warming. A one foot rise in sea water can result in up to 1000 feet or more of retreating shoreline. This added to wetland development will result in entire beaches disappearing. To save our environment we must support legislation against wetland development. As I said in the first paragraph, “The wetlands slow the flow of run-off. The sediments will settle to the bottom and the filtered water will have a chance to sink into the ground and replenish our drinking supplies. The roots of wetland plants will soak up heavy metals from the polluted runoff.” Polluted runoff is all of the contaminated water that flows off of the land. It comes from farms, yards, roads, and developed areas. For our U.S. coastal waters, polluted runoff has become the number #1 water pollution problem. Many beaches, such as those in Southern California, have coastal waters unsafe for human contact after EVERY runoff-generating rain. To solve the problem of polluted runoff, we need to change many of our individual and societal lifestyle habits. There are many ways that we can help solve the problem of polluted runoff according to the Surfrider Foundation. First off, we can fix oil leaks in cars. Or better yet, don’t drive use mass transit. More oil ends up in the ocean from run-off than from oil tanker spills. Use nontoxic household products. Don’t use fertilizer or pesticides on your lawn. Clean up after your dog. Say NO to Styrofoam. Use less water when it rains. Local sewage treatment plants get backed up from heavy rains. Recycle, and if the material can’t be recycled don’t use it. You must also exercise your civic rights. Attend your City Council, City Planning, Coastal Commission and other local government meetings. Make written comments on Environmental impact reports. Join nonprofit groups such as the Surfrider Foundation to help make an impact. If you document an environmental issue in your area, organizations like the Surfrider Foundation will see if there is anything they can legally do to stop the problem. Exercise you political rights and vote. In becoming part of the solution we must think both locally and globally as well as stay informed. The Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) released a report recently that said that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was one of the most wasteful programs of our government. The Corps of Engineers are constantly negatively affecting environmentally sensitive floodplains, watershed, and coastal areas of the U.S.. “The ongoing construction and maintenance of Corps dams, navigation channels, flood control structures, and other water development projects dramatically alter the nation's landscapes. Furthermore, this major government program costs federal taxpayers billions of dollars each year, often for economically unjustified activities.” (Taxpayers for Common Sense) The Corps of Engineers are a very hated group among environmentalists and surfers alike. Fellow surfers have told me that in the past (up to ten years ago) the Indian River Inlet, DE was the best break on the east coast. Surfers that have moved from the Delmarva area to California have said that they haven’t found a better barreling wave on the entire California coast. So what happened to this break? In 1990 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started dredging sand from the south side of the inlet to the north side. The result is small waves, nothing out of the ordinary. Fortunately the Clinton administration and key members of congress have advocated reform of the Corps. This overall movement toward a more responsible Corps is a common-sense goal shared by taxpayer advocates, conservationists, and local communities across the country. We must all do our part to preserve our nation’s coastal wetlands. We must stop developers and organizations such as the U.S. Army Corps of engineers from destroying our natural wetlands. Wetlands are important for many reasons. We must not forget them or take them for granted. It is important that future generations be able to benefit from the beauty and recreation of our coastal waters and wildlife. Bibliography All information came from articles compiled on the Surfrider Foundation website. http://www.Surfrider.com