Wetlands, or areas that are regularly or periodically saturated with water, are essential parts of the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed. A watershed is an area of land where water is channeled from streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater towards a common outlet.

Wetlands play a critical role in flood control, reducing pollution and erosion, and supporting fish and other wildlife. Whether they’re connected to the watershed via groundwater or because of their location in a floodplain, wetlands are a place where water can rest and release sediment and other pollutants on its journey towards the bay.

Thanks to wetlands, Grand Traverse has some of the highest water quality of all of the Great Lakes’ bays.

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