The world celebrates World Wetlands Day on February 2

World Wetlands Day on February 2 helps raise awareness about the value and benefit of wetlands as a natural resource. These marshes, bogs, fens, sloughs, swamps and bottomlands support an array of plants and animals and protect our homes from floods.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) encourages Hoosiers to learn about and help conserve Indiana’s wetlands. Wetlands collect water and release it slowly through evaporation and infiltration into ground water and nearby streams. It’s a process that both reduces the amount of water that goes into streams during heavy rains and maintains streams and drinking water wells during dry periods. When floods occur, wetlands allow floodwaters to spread, reducing the power floodwaters have to do damage.

For generations, many have believed the way to protect areas from flooding was to remove water as quickly as possible by straightening streams, creating ditches, tiling fields and draining wetlands to move water away from farmland and developments. The result of these activities is an increased risk of severe floods as storm water inundates waterways more quickly than it can be absorbed. Today, however, existing wetlands are being preserved and new wetlands are being created.

“Striking a balance between economic development and the preservation of Indiana’s environment is vital,” said Bruno Pigott, IDEM Assistant Commissioner, Office of Water Quality. “Our job is to ensure that any loss of remaining wetland is truly necessary and that steps are taken to minimize and mitigate the effects of wetland loss in order to protect Hoosiers and the environment.”

Hoosiers can explore Indiana wetlands by taking the IDEM virtual wetlands tour and visiting nature preserves in person. Information and IDEM’s virtual tour can be found on the IDEM website at www.wetlands.IN.gov. A list of Indiana’s nature preserves is found on the Indiana Department of Natural Resource’s website at www.IN.gov/dnr/naturepreserve/7384.htm.

About IDEM

IDEM (www.idem.IN.gov) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids business and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.

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