By Nanette Wiser
CLEAN WATER Wetlands, such as swamps and marshes, have some of the planet’s most valuable ecosystems. They act like sponges, preventing pollution from seeping into streams and other bodies of water, yet the depth of their federal protection is murky. In collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a University of South Florida geologist has developed the first-ever classification system for wetland connectivity, helping improve water quality and management nationwide. The new classification system demonstrates the effects wetlands have on water quality at a continental scale – invaluable data used to better define whether wetlands are federally regulated under the U.S. Clean Water Act.
“Since the Clean Water Act was established in 1972, we have continued to debate what constitutes our ‘nation’s waters,’ and wetlands continue to be lost due to draining and filling, despite their immense value in controlling the water quality in our major waterways,” says professor Mark Rains, who was appointed by the state in 2021 to serve as Florida’s chief science officer. “How ever we define the ‘nation’s waters’ will have a huge influence on whether we continue to protect the remaining wetlands or if we will lose more.”
The team categorized freshwater wetlands into four classes based on their proximity to streams and whether water flows between them at or below the surface. They then used this classification system to show that wetlands play important roles in controlling a stream’s water quality. The goal of this classification is to provide a better understanding of how wetlands contribute to the chemical, physical and biological integrity of downstream waters, especially nutrient runoff that can cause damaging algal bloom.
ECKERD COLLEGE Kudos! Nine areas on campus are now officially certified as wildlife habitats by the National Wildlife Federation. Sustainable management, wastewater reduction and reduced use of pesticides helped Eckerd meet the criteria for certification.
SUSTAINABLE GARDENS Wherever you are, the best thing to do is to plant native plants, especially butterfly host plants. To find host plants for our region, enter your ZIP code into the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder. Their data is from Doug Tallamy, a professor of entomology at the University of Delaware whose work has helped catalyze a growing native plant movement. nwf.org/nativeplantfinder