Wetlands Are Finally Getting the Respect They Deserve.

• Position: Brief Article

A bill introduced by Senator Gary Peters in the Michigan Senate (S1235) would protect more than 100 tiny public wetlands from drainage and development.

Peters believes state regulators have ignored these small sites despite a 1996 state report, The Critical Non-Contiguous Wetlands of Michigan, that recommended protection because of their unique characteristics and importance to local ecosystems.

More than 350 small wetlands--each less than five acres in size--on both public and private property were identified in the study.

The bill would place 110 of these sites under state Department of Environmental Quality supervision and require local governments, agencies and other units of government that own the land to obtain state permits to construct roads, nature paths, golf courses or anything else on or near the wetlands.

Although the wetlands may be tiny, their cumulative effect on the environment is mighty, according to scientists. These areas play in important role in filtering toxic pollutants, controlling flooding and providing a home for wildlife.

Virginia also has taken action to protect nontidal wetlands. These seasonally saturated fields and forests are located along the Hampton Roads area and have been disappearing since the 1600s due to development, more recently often at a rate of 2,000 acres per year.

Beginning in October 2001, developers and property owners must obtain permits and replace wetlands that are lost due to new construction of homes, roads and shopping malls.

In addition, the state prohibited the unregulated draining of wetlands effective July 1, 2000. The land clearing practice, referred to as Tulloch ditching, has led to the loss of 2,600 acres of nontidal wetlands since 1998. Another 7,500...