Wetlands Get The Whole Month of May

South Carolina's wetland bays, marshes and swamps provide habitat for wildlife such as waterfowl and economically important fish and shellfish populations. Wetlands reduce flooding, clean and replenish water supplies. Their recreational and aesthetic value helps attract visitors to the state.

Freshwater wetlands near Elloree, South Carolina (Photo by T. Dahl courtesy USFWS)

"Wetlands are starting to gain recognition as some of the most productive natural areas in the world," said Heather Preston, director of the Water Quality Division for Department of Health and Environmental Control's Bureau of Water.

"Although wetlands serve as a vital link between land and water, they are historically misunderstood and underappreciated," said Preston. "In the past, they were often used as dump sites and, unfortunately, appeared to be of value only when drained and developed."

"The goal of this month's celebration of South Carolinas abundant wetlands, which coincides with American Wetlands Month, is to educate and involve the public in local activities," she said. "DHEC has information emphasizing the importance of wetlands and wetland activities, which is available to civic groups, school groups and individuals."

American Wetlands Month was created in 1991 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its federal, state, tribal, local, nonprofit, and private sector partners to celebrate the importance of wetlands and to educate Americans about the value of wetlands as a natural resource.

This year, events are taking place across the country.

On Saturday, for instance, visitors to the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge on Long Island, New York will mark International Migratory Bird Day with an early morning bird walk, canoe trips, art and photo workshops, a live bird show and a bird mask and comedy mime show.

And Tuesday, May 12, marks the 20th Anniversary of the National Wetlands Awards program. Since 1989, the program has honored 143 champions of wetlands conservation.

This year, the Environmental Law Institute, the EPA, and other federal partners will honor a diverse group of individuals for their extraordinary commitment to conserving wetlands at an award ceremony on Capitol Hill.

"Congratulations to these individuals, who exemplify the finest in wetland stewardship across the country," said Michael Shapiro, acting assistant administrator, Office of Water, EPA. "Their tireless efforts to restore and protect these increasingly vital and threatened resources qualify them as true heroes. As we work together to reverse dramatic losses and advance the quantity and quality of our nation's wetlands, these winners inspire and sustain us."

The 2009 awardees are:

• Peter Bahls, an aquatic ecologist and founder of the Northwest Watershed Institute who has preserved and restored hundreds of acres of aquatic habitats in the Pacific Northwest in the Tarboo Creek Watershed


• Ken Brunswick, winner of the 2009 Sustained Contributions Award, a regional ecologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserves who manages the Limberlost Swamp Remembered Project to restore a 13,000-acre wetland


• Richard Gitar, the Water Regulatory Specialist for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa who has built a successful tribal wetlands program across 44,000 acres of wetlands in Minnesota


• Carol Johnston, a professor at South Dakota State University who has worked in the field of wetland science for over 35 years addressing the linkages between wetland processes and landscape ecology in the Great Lakes region and throughout the country


• Melissa Samet, the senior director of water resources at American Rivers who has been instrumental in restoring the wetlands and storm buffering capacity of the Mississippi River in the greater New Orleans area and in preventing the loss of thousands of acres of ecologically significant wetlands in the Mississippi Delta


• Richard Thieriot, owner of the Llano Seco Ranch who has worked tirelessly to protect 18,000 acres of contiguous wetlands, riparian forests, native uplands and wildlife-friendly agricultural lands in the Sacramento Valley of California


• Susan Vincent, a high school science teacher at The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem in New York City who has guided her students to conduct field research in local marshes and in the Mississippi River Delta in southern Louisiana

"The restoration and protection of the Nation's aquatic resources, especially wetlands, is a high priority for us," said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John Paul Woodley, Jr. "I am excited that the work we are doing will supplement the fine wetlands work being done by the recipients of this year’s awards."

"Wetlands are a vital link between our land and water resources, and they provide a variety of ecological services to forests and grasslands," said Abigail Kimbell, chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

The take-home message that all the public awareness programs are promoting is simple. Wetlands are essential for healthy coastal and marine habitats which support valuable fisheries and protected resources. They help buffer coastal communities from the impacts of storms and sea level rise, improve water quality, and provide healthy recreational opportunities for public enjoyment.

Click here for a map of Wetlands Month events around the country.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2009. All rights reserved.