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Sierra Club Water Sentinels
Wetlands
Wetlands play a critical role in regulating the quality and movement of water within watersheds as well as in the global water cycle. They remove pollutants from water, act as a buffer to decrease flooding, recharge groundwater, add moisture to the atmosphere, protect shorelines, and prevent erosion. Wetlands exist in nearly every region of the United States, and are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world, providing essential habitat for plants and wildlife.
However, twenty-two states have lost at least 50 percent of their original wetlands, and seven states have lost more than 80 percent of their wetlands. Over the last 200 years, wetland acreage has diminished to the point where their economic and environmental benefits (i.e., ground water supply and water quality, shoreline erosion, floodwater storage, and trapping of sediments) are now seriously threatened.
Water Sentinels are working to protect and restore wetlands in the United States. By dedicating ourselves to this pursuit, we will improve water quality, reduce flooding, and enhance the myriad of ecological benefits that our wetlands provide. Please join us.
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