Wetland Watch | National Great Rivers Research and Education Center

why we need wetlands

A major goal of the Wetlands Collaborative at National Great Rivers is to educate the broader community on the value and importance of wetlands. Wetlands are one of the most ecologically productive and economically important ecosystems globally, but they are also rapidly disappearing. In the United States, the lower 48 states have lost over 50% of their wetlands, and in Illinois, the loss has reached 90% since the late 1700s. The services provided by wetlands are vast and have a much larger impact than most realize outside the scientific community.

“We estimate that ecosystem services related to commercial fishing, water quality and supply, recreation, and flood control alone provide over $7.7 trillion in benefits annually within the conterminous United States”.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Wetland Watch will help train interested individuals about different wetlands types, how to identify wetlands in their communities and share that information with the Wetlands Collaborative at National Great Rivers. Sharing that information with our scientists will help inform research, education and outreach efforts on wetlands but could also help to inform policymakers at the local, state and national level to manage and protect wetlands. Wetlands are more and more viewed as valuable “natural infrastructure” because of the myriad benefits they provide.

What are Wetlands?

Wetlands are defined as transitional areas between dry, upland areas and waterbodies.

wetland cross section

There are three criteria for defining a wetland.

Hydrology

The presence of water or signs of water present (like the high water marks on the trees in the photo to the left).

Hydric soils

Soils with specific properties that indicate water has sat in the area for long periods. They are usually evaluated based on visual appearance or colors (like the rust colors in the photo to the left).

Hydrophytic plants

Plants whose roots won’t rot when inundated with water for long periods (cattails, water lily, lotus, bald cyprus).

If you walk around your property, you might have a wetland if…

*Water*
You sink in the mud when you walk out onto the property. You have a stream, river, pond, spring or seep on or near your property. You have standing or flowing water on top of the ground for a long time or multiple times a year. You have low areas that hold water for a long time after it rains. You have leaves on the ground that are stained a darker color than in other areas.

*Soil*
Your soil is dark grey or black. Your grey soil has rust-colored streaks or clumps in it. You dig a hole, and it fills with water, or you can see water seeping in from the sides. Your soil feels wet, or you can squeeze water out of it.

*Plants*
Your tree trunks are much wider at the bottom (buttressed) or have multiple trunks. You can see water marks or moss lines on the trunks of your trees. You have bald cypress or tupelo gum trees. You have plants that can tolerate a lot of water [these are listed as Obligate (OBL), Facultative Wetland (FACW), and Facultative (FAC) species in the National Wetland Plant List.

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One Confluence Way
East Alton, IL 62024

Phone: (618) 468-2900

Email: ngrrec@lc.edu