Watershed Wednesday: Wetlands
Tomorrow is World Wetlands Day! Wetlands have been described as the arteries and veins of landscapes. A wetland, by definition, is an area of soil covered by water. Wetlands are extremely important because they benefit our freshwater supply, groundwater recharge, flood control, and biodiversity.
Wetlands are disappearing at a rate three times faster than our forests. In total 90% of our wetlands have been degraded or lost, with 35% of that loss/degradation being in the past 50 years. This is extremely concerning and heartbreaking considering 40% of all animal species live in wetlands.
This year, World Wetlands Day theme is: It’s time for wetland restoration. Visit The Official Website of World Wetlands Day brought to you by Ramsar to learn more about wetlands and how YOU can help save and preserve them!
Here in our home county, there is a 40-acre wetland just past East Main in downtown Bozeman! A local wetland advocate organization, Sacajawea Audubon Society (SAS), worked for many years with various partners to create the Indreland Wetland Audubon Preserve (IAWP). Anyone and everyone should go take a stroll and do some bird watching at the wetland!
Tomorrow’s World Wetland Events:
In celebration of World Wetlands Day, SAS will be hosting a celebration at the IAWP at 4pm on February 2nd, 2023. This is a great opportunity to learn more about this local wetland! There will be hot chocolate, information on beavers, and even the opportunity to touch a real beaver skull, teeth, and pelt!
You may even have the chance to see the resident IAWP beavers! Bring your binoculars, a cup for cocoa, and some warm layers. Please Park at the Cafe M at East Main Street and cross N. Broadway by the clock tower. You will see the trail to the wetland on the right of the sidewalk.
If you want to get involved in helping protect our local wetlands and other resources within the Lower Gallatin Watershed, join the IAWP Busy Beaver volunteer team or keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities on our website. Some great resources to learn more about our local watershed and wetlands is Gallatin Watershed Council and Bozeman Wetlands.
