Wetlands play a significant role throughout the Bow River watershed in a number of ways:
- Wetlands (along with riparian areas) provide food and habitat for a large diversity of plants, mammals and migratory birds. In fact, 80 percent of the breeding bird populations in North America rely on wetland habitat;
- Wetlands act like sponges, helping to reduce the impact of floods;
- Wetlands are considered a "sink" for nutrients, sediment, and bacteria. That is, they help to filter pollution from water. Unfortunately, over the past 100 years, most of Alberta's wetlands have been drained and filled for rural and urban development. Even those wetlands that remain are often adversely impacted by urban and agricultural practices.
An estimated 64 percent of wetlands throughout An estimated 64 percent of wetlands throughout the Bow River basin have been lost.the Bow River basin have been lost. Within the City of Calgary, there has been a 90 percent loss of wetlands. The loss or degradation of wetlands hurts the plants and animals in the localized ecosystems and also has a negative impact on water quantity and quality.
