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What is Wetland Stewardship?

Wetlands stewardship means protecting and enhancing the natural features, processes, and ecological functions of wetlands.

As land stewards, private property owners have a tremendous opportunity to conserve and protect wetlands through wise land-use decisions. Their attention to stewardship can complement and enhance existing regulatory efforts to protect wetlands. Although federal, state, and local regulations may protect some wetlands from certain activities such as dredging or filling, other activities are not regulated. Thus, in the absence of committed voluntary stewardship, the gradual degradation or loss of wetlands systems results.

Wetlands stewardship can include:

Long-term preservation using purchase or donations, and conservation easements.
Non-compensatory enhancement, restoration, or establishment.
Improved management through use of best management practices, management plans or agreements, and partnership contracts.
Incentives such as current use taxation, transfers of development rights, etc.

The benefits of stewardship are different for different people. Some landowners seek to retain the natural values of their property for recreation and enjoyment. Others may wish to protect the wetland’s natural functions, while also achieving direct economic benefit from the property.

Providing wetland stewardship does not have to mean an economic loss to the landowner. Landowners can benefit economically by protecting and enhancing wetlands. Some financial benefits include direct income, estate tax reductions, and in some cases, income and property tax reductions.

Several state and federal programs are available that offer cost-sharing for preserving or restoring wetlands, and even direct payments for conserving wetlands. Landowners can receive financial or technical assistance for providing conservation easements on their wetlands. Along with the economic returns, many urban communities in Washington experience increased property values when open spaces such as wetlands are preserved; assuring the owner of permanent solitude and an aesthetic view.

Stewardship options abound. Landowners can

sell their wetlands for permanent preservation.
sell rights to their land.
place lands in conservation easements.
receive payments for conservation or restoration work.
make use of incentives such as current use taxation programs.
apply management practices that enhance values.
donate or acquire lands.
apply many other innovative approaches.

Often landowners can and do receive income or other tax benefits for implementing the options they choose.

More information on wetland stewardship is available in: Exploring Wetlands Stewardship: A Reference Guide for Assisting Washington Landowners and Communities (November 2008). This guide describes wetland stewardship techniques and ways technical agents (Conservation District officers, for example) can help landowners and communities get assistance with planning or implementing stewardship on their property. It features a complete directory of assistance programs available in Washington State.