NRM 1401 Final TTU Gipson Questions and Answers(A+ Solution guide)

What is a wetland? What types of areas make up wetlands? - Answer--The term "wetlands" is difficult to define and causes some controversy because of the diversity of wetlands. -Typically wetlands are in a transition zone between uplands and permanently flooded, deep-water habitat. What are the five categories of wetlands and what are the characteristics of each? - Answer-- Marine Wetlands Ocean overlying the continental shelf and shoreline environments - Estuarine Wetlands Mouths of rivers where they flow into the ocean - Riverine Wetlands The riparian zone, subject to flooding along the sides of streams - Lacustrine Wetlands Shallow water areas in lakes and reservoirs - Palustrine Wetlands The majority of wetlands includes bogs, freshwater marshes, swamps, ponds, playa lakes, & desert oases What are the major functions of wetlands? - Answer-- Flood/Storm water Control: Intercept, store, and slowly release flood water - Groundwater Support: Store water then release it slowly to groundwater - Enhance Water Quality: Filter out or retain sediment and toxic pollutants - Wildlife Habitat: Produce nutritious foods, nesting, and breeding habitats for migratory and resident species How much of the surface of the Earth is covered by wetlands? - Answer-6% When did study of wetlands begin? - Answer-The 1960's How much of the U.S. was originally covered by wetlands? How much of the original area was reduced by 2004? - Answer-- Originally: 215 million acres- 2004: 107.7 million acres Historically, were wetlands considered to be valuable? What was done with wetlands? - Answer-- Historically wetlands were considered wastelands with no ecological or economic importance. -They were drained, filled , dredged, or flooded for agriculture, navigation, and/or land development. When did the U.S. adopt a "No Net Loss" policy in regards to wetlands and what does this mean? - Answer-In the 1980s the U.S. government adopted a "No Net Loss" wetland policy enforced under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Which agencies share responsibility for protection of wetlands? - Answer-- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - protection related to navigation and water supply - Environmental Protection Agency - protection related to water quality, primarily for human use - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - protection related to fish and wildlife that are hunted as well as endangered species - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - protection related to managing coastal resources Natural Resources Conservation Service - protection related to wetlands on agricultural lands In which time periods were wetlands in the U.S. being reduced and when, if at all, have they increased? - Answer-- 1950's-1970's - 1970's-Present What is the only Federal protection to wetlands? - Answer-The Migratory Bird Rule