4.1.12.E+pd.2

=**Trade-offs, Costs and Benefits of Conserving Watersheds and Wetlands.**=

Benefits of Conservation
> Good Water Quality- Wetlands act as great filters for nutrients any other wastes. (How Your Watershed Can Benefit With Wetlands, Kaynor)
 * Decreased Flood Impact- Wetlands act as good water catches and sponges to absorb some floodwater.
 * Erosion Prevention- The plants in wetlands help keep everything in place. This helps the wetland and watershed in all.
 * Groundwater Recharge-Some wetlands refill groundwater that is good and clean.
 * Food- Food comes from wetlands for humans are any other species.
 * Animal and Plant Habitat- There are many endangered animals that live in wetlands. If not conserved we could loose these animals.
 * Recreation- If wetlands were not conserved, many great places for hunting and fishing would be gone.

Costs
Many of the costs of conserving watersheds and wetlands come in the from of government grants. About $183 million has been granted so far to 25 coastal states to gain and protect 250,000 acres of coastal wetlands. Normally the government gives out around $13 to $17 million in grants through a competative process.

4.1 Watersheds pd2