Putting wetlands to work for water quality

August 09, 2021

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Photo of a constructed wetland in Charlottesville, Virginia by Scott Clark.

"In the past, wetlands were considered wastelands," according to the US Geological Survey, and more than half were drained and developed. Now, they’re seen not only as important ecosystems, but as a tool for improving water quality.

A study by an interdisciplinary team of hydrologists, ecologists, geomorphologists, biogeochemists, social scientists and environmental economists, including SWAC faculty member Prof. Brent Dalzell, found that restoring or constructing wetlands near farmland is the most cost effective way to improve the water quality of an entire watershed.

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