Forgive the sarcasm, but here's a brilliant observation!

Peggi
>============================================================
>For release May 9, 1997 Larry Dean 202-208-5634
> Martha Naley 703-358-2201
>
> WETLANDS HELP CONTROL FLOODING
>
>Record-setting floods occurring and expected around the country
>would likely be worse if not for nature's safety net of wetlands.
>
>In places such as the Midwest, experts warn that this year's
>spring flooding could reach 500-year record levels. But wetlands
>serve as nature's sponge to absorb, then slowly release, spring
>runoff, softening the blow of devastating floods.
>
>Acting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director John Rogers said,
>"Water held in undrained wetlands won't be flooding roads, farms,
>and homes across the country." Although millions of acres of
>wetlands nationwide have been lost to urbanization and
>agricultural conversion, partnerships among the Service, states,
>other Federal agencies, conservation groups, and private
>landowners are making progress toward reversing that trend.
>
>These partnerships are critical to the success of wetland
>restoration. More than 74 percent of wetlands in the lower 48
>states are on lands controlled by private landowners, both
>individual and corporate.
>
>Through the Service's wetland easement and agreement program,
>landowners have voluntarily protected 3,595,440 acres, a
>significant contribution to flood prevention. Research conducted
>by the Service and the North Dakota Water Commission in 1983
>found that wetlands can store up to 1.74 feet of run-off water
>per acre. Storage in wetlands or private lands protected in
>cooperation with the Service could amount to more than 6.3
>million acre-feet nationally, enough to supply the water needs of
>more than 25 million people for one year.
>
>"As harsh as the floods may be this spring, they could be even
>more devastating without the real heroes: the farmers and
>landowners who decided to preserve their wetlands," Rogers said.
>"These people are true stewards of the land and its resources."
>
>Historically, the lower 48 states contained an estimated 221
>million acres of wetlands but that number dropped to an estimated
>104 million acres in the 1980s. Ten states (Arkansas,
>California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,
>Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio) have lost 70 percent or more of
>their original wetland acres. And 22 states have lost 50 percent
>or more wetland acres. Agricultural conversion has accounted for
>87 percent of these wetland losses, while urbanization has
>accounted for another 8 percent.
>
>However, wildlife habitat restoration efforts such as the
>Service's Partners for Wildlife Program have contributed to
>restoration of wetlands, with a total of 360,000 acres of
>wetlands, 128,000 acres of prairie, 930 miles of riparian
>habitat, and 90 miles of instream habitat restored as of December
>1996.
>
>Wetlands also help maintain high water quality, contribute to
>sustaining groundwater supplies, and provide critical habitat for
>hundreds of species including more than one-third of our
>endangered species.
>
> -FWS-
>
>
>
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>.-
>
>
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz 122 W, 37 N)
USA
woodduck at cruzio.com


"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
It sings because it has a song"