Wetlands are defined as areas where water saturation plays a major role in shaping soil formation and the populations of plants and animals that call the soil and surface home. Regional and local soils, terrain, climate, water chemistry, hydrology, vegetation, and other variables, including human disturbance, contribute to a vast range of wetland types. Wetland ecosystems may be found all over the world, from the Arctic to the tropics, and on each continent except Antarctica. Wetlands, as defined by the "Clean Water Act" for regulatory purposes, are "lands that are regularly and for long enough periods saturated by the surface of the groundwater to sustain, and generally do maintain, a preponderance of plants suited to life under the saturated soil conditions. Swamps, bogs, marshes and other similar ecosystems are all examples of wetland ecosystems." Wetlands may be used as buffers along shorelines, reducing the risk of damage from waves or running water. Vegetation in wetlands acts as a filter, removing sediment from water by slowing the flow of water and causing suspended particles to settle out of the suspension before it reaches the lake. Wetlands are like enormous sponges; they absorb water quickly and then slowly release it elsewhere. Many contaminants may be removed from the water before it enters lakes, rivers, or your drinking source water thanks to the filtration capabilities of wetlands. It's common for water leaving a marsh to be cleaner than the water entering it. When it comes to supporting biodiversity, few ecosystems can compare to wetland areas. Wetlands are essential for the reproduction, nesting, and feeding of a wide variety of fish and animal species. Many species have seen their populations decline as a result of the destruction of their marsh homes. Threatened fish, animals, and plants in the state of New York rely on the state's surviving wetlands for survival.
