Converted wetland facts for kids

A converted wetland is a special kind of wetland that has been changed by people, usually to make it suitable for farming. This means the land might have been drained, filled in, or leveled so crops could be grown there. These changes stop wetlands from doing their important natural jobs, like cleaning water or providing homes for wildlife.

What Are Converted Wetlands?

A converted wetland is a natural wet area that has been altered by humans. This usually happens when people want to use the land for farming. They might drain the water away, fill in the wet spots, or level the ground. These actions change the wetland so much that it can no longer function as a natural wetland.

Why Are Wetlands Important?

Wetlands are super important parts of our environment. They act like giant sponges, soaking up floodwaters and helping to prevent floods. They also clean our water by filtering out pollution. Many different animals, from birds to fish, rely on wetlands for their homes and food. Protecting these areas helps keep our planet healthy.

The "Swampbuster" Rule

To protect wetlands, the United States created a rule called "Swampbuster." This rule was part of a bigger law passed in 1985, known as the Farm Bill. The main goal of Swampbuster is to stop farmers from converting new wetlands into farmland. It also helps reduce soil erosion on lands that are easily washed away.

How "Swampbuster" Works

The Swampbuster program says that if a wetland was changed for farming after December 23, 1985, it's considered a "converted wetland." For these specific areas, farmers are not allowed to do more draining or maintain existing drainage systems. This rule helps make sure that these important wet areas are not damaged further.

What About Older Conversions?

Some wetlands were converted into farmland before the Swampbuster rule started on December 23, 1985. These are called prior converted wetlands. For these older converted areas, the rules are less strict. Farmers can usually continue to drain and maintain these lands without restrictions under Swampbuster.

Protecting Our Wetlands

Over the last 200 years, many wetlands in the United States have disappeared. About 53 percent of the original wetlands in 48 US states are gone. A big reason for this loss, especially between the 1950s and 1970s, was turning wetlands into farms.

The Swampbuster program has really helped slow down this loss. By protecting wetlands, we also protect their important natural functions. These include:

• Controlling floods
• Stopping soil from washing away
• Helping to refill underground water sources
• Keeping our water clean
• Providing homes for many different animals