Wetlands losses in the United States 1780's to 1980's

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Wetlands are disappearing at a rapid rate. Although measures are actively being sought to stem wetland losses and restore wetland acreage, the rate of wetland conversion over the years has been dramatic. This report is the first of two to Congress on the status of wetland resources in the United States. A one-time effort, it focuses on documenting historical wetland losses that occurred from colonial times through the 1980s. It is a compilation of existing data from a variety of sources, an attempt being made to present the most reliable data. The report is a product of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wetlands Inventory. The data presented in the report indicate that, over a period of 200 years, the lower 48 states lost an estimated 53% of their original wetlands. On average, this calculation means that the lower 48 states have lost over 60 acres of wetlands for every hour between the 1780s and the 1980s. The data presented also indicate that 22 states have lost 50 percent or more of their original wetlands, California losing the largest percentage of original wetlands within its borders (91%) and Florida losing the most acreage (9.3 million acres). Wetland acreage data, by state, has been tabulated for the 200-year timespan. Over the 200 years, wetland acreage has diminished to the point where environmental and even socio-economic benefits (i.e., ground water supply and water quality, shoreline erosion, floodwater storage and trapping of sediments, and climatic changes) are now seriously threatened.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Ecology

Recommended citation: Dahl , T.E. 1990. Wetlands losses in the United States 1780's to 1980's. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. 13pp.

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation:
Dahl TE. 1990. Wetlands losses in the United States 1780's to 1980's. Washington (DC): US Fish and Wildlife Service. 13 p. [accessed 2016 Jan 5]. http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Documents/Wetlands-Losses-in-the-United-Stat....