|Copyright Michael R. Martin|
Researchers at Indiana University say wetlands in isolated areas play big roles in providing clean water and other environmental benefits, according to a release from the school. This is in spite of the fewer regulatory protections for isolated wetlands to other similar wetlands.
“Geographically isolated wetlands provide important benefits such as sediment and carbon retention, nutrient transformation and water-quality improvement, all of which are critical for maintaining water quality,” said John Marton, assistant scientist at IU Bloomington’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Continued losses of the isolated wetlands could cause serious harm to North American waters.