What are Wetlands?
A wetland is an area between dry land and water that is regularly saturated with surface or ground water. The saturation of water determines how the soil develops and the types of plant and animal communities that can thrive in an on the soil. Wetlands may support both aquatic and terrestrial species. The prolonged presence of water creates conditions that favor the growth of specially adapted plants and promote the development of characteristic wetland soils.
Wetlands can vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils, topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation, and other factors.