Protecting Washington's Wetlands

Washington's wetlands protect water quality, reduce flooding, provide aquifer recharge for drinking water and other uses, and provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife. VSP county projects work in partnership to protect, restore, and manage wetlands and their important functions through conservation and restoration projects.

Wetlands perform many ecological functions. Knowledge and understanding about the complexities wetland ecosystems represent is still developing.

Wetland ecologists have already documented the following environmental benefits wetlands provide:

• Water purification
• Flood protection
• Shoreline stabilization
• Groundwater recharge and stream flow maintenance

Wetlands also provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including endangered species. Not all wetlands provide all of these benefits, and how your particular wetland works depends on its location and type.

Learn more about critical area definitions.