Natural History Wanderings

NPR reported that a recent federal study shows U.S. coastal wetlands losses were 25 percent greater from 2004-2009 than previously thought. An average of 80,000 acres of coastal wetlands were lost with over 70 percent of the estimated loss in the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the loss was due to farming, development (both urban and rural) and powerful storms.

Here are estimates of how the four major U.S. area for wetlands did during the course of the study:

• Gulf of Mexico: Net loss of 257,150 acres
• Atlantic Coast: Net loss of 111,960 acres
• Pacific Coast: Net loss of 5,220 acres
• Great Lakes: Net gain of 13,610 acres

There were also wetland gains in the coastal watersheds of South Carolina, Georgia and parts of central Florida. Most of the loss was in freshwater wetlands which lost about 34.6 million acres compared to a loss of 6.4 million acres of saltwater wetlands.

See article at:  Rate Of Coastal Wetlands Loss Has Sped Up, U.S. Study Says : The Two-Way : NPR.

To see a full copy of the report go to; Status and Trends of Wetlands In the Coastal Watersheds of the Conterminous United States 2004 to 2009 – Status-and-Trends-of-Wetlands-In-the-Coastal-Watersheds-of-the-Conterminous-US-2004-to-2009.pdf.

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