The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's Healthy Headwaters Wetlands Initiative is about to enter its tenth year.
Wetlands Specialist Angela Van Niekerk explains at one time wetlands made up about twenty per cent of the Ausable Bayfield watershed and that now stands at about 2%.
She points out that wetlands are usually swamps or marshy areas near streams and are not well-suited for building or for agriculture, but they do provide a valuable service in re-charging groundwater areas and that was particularly important in a dry summer like this past summer.
Van Niekerk adds wetlands also reduce flooding and erosion and help keep nutrients on the land.
She says over the years the Healthy Headwaters Wetlands Initiative has completed 60 projects and planted more than 255,000 trees and plants with the help of private and government funding.
Van Niekerk says they're currently planning projects for next year so if any property owners would like to do something to restore or expand wetlands on their property they can call the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority and they'll come out and see what they can do to help.