Wetlands
Wetlands are defined under the Clean Water Act as, "those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas." Wetlands include both land and aquatic components. Because of this, wetlands are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Wetland areas provide habitat for large varieties of plants, invertebrates, fish, and other animals and support many species of rare, threatened, and endangered species. Besides providing people with beautiful places to observe and enjoy the planet's rich natural resources, wetlands also provide many practical benefits. Floods are controlled and erosion lessened by the storage and slow release of flood and rainwaters. Wetlands help improve water quality by storing water and allow sediments to settle out. The natural filtration systems present in wetland ecosystems also serve to further purify water. The effectiveness of wetlands for purification is illustrated by the creation of several sites within the United States where wetland ecosystems are 
being successfully used in place of traditional sewage treatment systems in order to naturally purify waste water. Finally, wetlands provide areas where surface water can replenish the groundwater.
Despite their numerous values, wetland ecosystems have not been given the respect that they deserve through much of our nation's history. It is estimated that over half of the wetlands in the United States have been lost since the 1700s. We now have started to understand the importance of these ecosystems and measures have been taken to protect them. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has authority over wetland areas in the United States and it is the Corps' responsibility to monitor and protect these areas. In El Paso County, the Environmental Services Department is working closely with the Parks and Leisure Services Department in order to begin protecting and 
enhancing wetlands ecosystems located in the county.