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Large flock of birds flying over wetlands with a mountain ridge and sunset in the background.
Dunlin Flocks of Dunlin in flooded rice fields in Colusa, California. © Drew Kelly for The Nature Conservancy
Groundwater 101

Wetlands

Wetlands occur in coastal areas or inland and can be fresh, brackish (somewhat saline), or saline. Examples include mountain meadows, marshes and swamps, among others. Wetlands are highly productive and support a wide range of aquatic organisms including mammals, fish, birds, invertebrates, and plants. Wetlands clean water, help protect communities from flooding, remove carbon from the atmosphere, and stabilize shorelines. In addition to these benefits, people also enjoy recreational activities such as bird watching, boating, fishing and hunting in wetland areas.

Wetlands receiving water from groundwater tend to stay wet longer throughout the year than those fed only by surface water. However, when groundwater levels are lowered, the connection to the wetland can be lost, causing water to become unavailable, and these valuable natural habitats to be lost.

Wetlands A short informational video on wetlands as Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems.

Consequences of Intensive Pumping

  1. Plants and animals that depend on wetlands lose the water and habitat they need to survive and can die.

  2. Migratory birds and other animals lose a necessary water, shelter, and feeding source, disrupting large-scale animal movements.

  3. Water quality deteriorates.

  4. Hunting, fishing, birding, boating, and other recreational opportunities are lost.

  5. Availability of water for human use decreases, negatively affecting domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses.