Status and Trends of Wetlands In The Coastal Watersheds of the Eastern United States 1998 to 2004

This report is the result of a cooperative effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In the time period encompassed by this study, trends suggested the country as a whole was gaining wetlands. From 1998 to 2004, wetland gains in the conterminous United States were estimated to have been 32,000 acres (12,960 ha) annually. The fact that coastal watersheds were losing wetlands despite the national trend of net gains points to the need for more research on the natural and human forces behind these trends and to an expanded effort on conservation of wetlands in these coastal areas.