A quick visual guide to how wetlands work
Our forests, streams, lakes, and wetlands provide an amazing service to us, clean water! They have evolved over millions of years of ‘research and development’. Forests act as a giant filter. Rain infiltrates the porous organic soils and percolates slowly to streams where it is gradually released as clear water. As a result, forest streams commonly run clear even during storms.
Wetlands: Nature’s sponge and filter
Wetlands, swamps, marshes, bogs, and fens provide many services. They filter stream waters, store water, and offer critical habitat for many plants and animals. Wetlands fill with water during rains and slowly release water through droughts. Before we understood their critical role, we used to ditch and drain wetlands to create lawns, pastures, or farms.
Green infrastructure: What’s that?
Our forests, streams, lakes, and wetlands provide us with vital water supply and filtration services. Like roads, power lines, and water pipeline systems, they are essential infrastructure that we depend on. Just like these other services, our green infrastructure requires investment.
Forested corridors: vital to stream health
Maintaining forest corridors along our streams is essential to stream health. Forests filter water, provide shade to cool waters during summer heat, provide logs that create pools and riffles, and provide wildlife travel corridors and habitat. They also provide walking trails for us!
The illustrations and text are from Natural Resources Canada,
