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1. What is a wetland?

Wetlands consist primarily of low, marshy areas with soils that support unique plant and animal life. They are environments subject to periodic flooding or prolonged saturation. There are two broad categories of wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: tidal and nontidal wetlands.

Wetlands within the reach of tides are considered tidal and have a salinity range from fresh to salty. Nontidal wetlands are unaffected by tides and are typically freshwater.