1. They have mostly hydric soils, soils that developed in wet conditions.
2. They are wet either above ground or within 12 inches of the ground surface for at least a week of the growing season.
3. They have vegetation adapted to wet soil conditions.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that although we continue to lose wetlands, the rate of loss is decreasing. And people are starting to discover how valuable wetlands are.

Wetlands take part in:

• Flood control Wetlands can slow runoff water, reducing the number of times streams and rivers reach catastrophic flood levels.

• Water detention Wetlands hold water like a sponge, slowly releasing this water into the ground water supply.

• Natural filter By trapping and holding water, pollutants are stored in the soil, allowing cleaner water to flow on to the next body of water. Vegetation, like cattails, can absorb some of the pollutants that remain in the soil.

• Recreation Wetlands are great places to canoe, hunt, fish, or explore and enjoy nature.

• Rare species 43 percent of threatened or endangered plants and animals in the U.S. live in or depend on wetlands.

• Wildlife habitat Many animals depend on wetlands for homes and resting spots. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic insects, and certain mammals need wetlands as a place for their young to be born and grow.

• Education Wetlands provide ideal locations for classroom ecological studies and a focus for art.

Stormwater ponds are man-made and regulate water quantity and quality. They serve several functions:

1. They catch the water that runs off streets, parking lots, and lawns and hold it in their basins.
2. They control runoff peaks by holding water and releasing it slow. This also prevents erosion.
3. They remove sediment from the water before it reaches natural wetlands, rivers, streams, or lakes, which improves water quality.
4. They also improve water quality by removing excess nutrients and other chemicals from the water.
5. They can provide homes for wildlife, especially when they take on wetland characteristics.

1. Provide 15 to 25 foot buffer strips of unmowed grass or plantings along water bodies. Buffer strips help slow water runoff, prevent soil erosion, and help keep nutrients from being carried into ponds and wetlands.

2. Keep paints, used oil, solvents, and other household chemicals out of storm drains, sinks, and toilets. Call City Hall to find out where to properly dispose of these items.

3. Keep leaves, grass clippings, and other organic debris out of streets and storm drains. These materials add too many nutrients to the water and allow algae to grow.

4. Think before you fertilize your lawn. Test your soil to determine how much, if any, is needed. Follow fertilizer-instructions carefully.

5. Support community efforts to protect wetlands in Chanhassen and the surrounding cities. All the wetlands in the Metro area are important!!

• Ponds & Wetlands: What's In My Backard?
• A Resident's Guide: Wetland Protection
• Revenge on the Green Pond Scum!