A new report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reveals that as of 2019, wetlands—95 percent of which are freshwater—occupied less than 6 percent of the contiguous United States, a figure that represents half of their extent since the 1780s. The report further indicates a 50 percent increase in loss rates since 2009, cautioning that without further conservation efforts, the decline of these ecosystems will persist, diminishing their benefits for people, as well as their role as habitats for fish, wildlife, and plants (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2024). However, our focus here is not on these challenges, but rather on the positive impact of the ReWilder community’s commitment to the future of wetlands, demonstrating that we can defy the prevailing trend of wetland degradation.
Wetlands rank among the most fertile and species-rich environments, providing a home or breeding ground for 40 percent of all plant and animal species, including numerous threatened and endangered ones. In fact, about half of the species protected under the Endangered Species Act in the United States depend on wetlands. These habitats are crucial for over 4 billion migratory birds and serve as nursery grounds for many fish species. In addition, wetlands offer significant social and economic benefits, such as water purification, shoreline stabilization, and deep cultural significance to Native Americans (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2024). These are just some of the reasons why our efforts to restore wetlands in Mission Bay have been ongoing since 2015.
Wetland degradation has been a nationwide issue since at least the mid-1990s, driven by urban development, agriculture, and other anthropogenic factors. For example, Mission Bay, or ‘False Bay’ in San Diego was a tidal marsh before being transformed into a man-made park starting in the late 1940s, through dredging and fill. Similar tales of wetland conversion are prevalent across the Southeast and Great Lakes regions.
Simultaneously, initiatives to revive and rehabilitate these areas have been gaining momentum. Examples include a golf course that went wild in Santa Barbara, NOAA’s Barataria Basin restoration project in Louisiana, and the Glacial Ridge Project in Minnesota, which is restoring both native prairie and wetlands. Across the nation, groups are advocating for and actively participating in wetland restoration efforts. Locally, ReWilders have championed the restoration of 225 acres of tidal wetland in the De Anza Natural Plan, set to return 5% of the bay to its natural state by 2030, in line with the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan.
The future of wetlands holds promise, despite the historical losses. By leading in wetland restoration, San Diego can counter the national trend and create positive news. It’s easy to be daunted by the magnitude of the task ahead, but it’s important to take a moment to acknowledge the progress made. Celebrate your involvement, advocate for continued action, and embrace the tangible progress of wetland restoration in our community, steering away from the path of ongoing decline.
- Continued Decline of Wetlands Documented in New U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report, Mar 22, 2024. https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2024-03/continued-decline-wetlands-documented-new-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-report