Wastewater to Wetlands Project Details

Wetland Basics

Wetlands are flooded areas that support plants capable of growth under saturated conditions. Otherwise known as swamps, marshes, bogs, fens, or sloughs, wetlands are complex and dynamic systems that are among the most important ecosystems on earth. Wetlands are invaluable for their capacity to produce high levels of oxygen, filter out water pollutants, prevent and minimize flooding and shore erosion, recharge groundwater supplies, and provide critical wildlife habitat. Even small, isolated, or temporary wetlands are essential to maintaining biodiversity.

Wetland Devastation

Wetlands weren't always well understood or highly regarded. Unfortunately, during the first 60 years of the twentieth century, half of all the wetlands in the United States were lost. In less than a lifetime, the acceleration of urban development, agriculture, logging, and flood control destroyed over 110 million acres of this critical resource. No state has suffered a greater loss than California, where only nine percent of original wetlands remain, with less than five percent left in the Central Valley -- the most important waterfowl wintering area in the Pacific Flyway, supporting about 60% of the total population.

Constructed Wetlands as Part of the Solution

Ongoing work that focuses on protection and restoration of remaining historic wetlands are vital to the preservation of the most biologically rich and productive wetland habitat possible. Wastewater to Wetlands complements and supplements these efforts by promoting the creation of constructed wetlands on private industry lands -- wetlands that when carefully engineered and maintained provide final cleaning ("polishing") of pre-treated wastewater and wildlife habitat.

Constructed wetlands are principally intended to use natural processes and energy sources to remove water pollutants -- including, suspended solids, biological oxygen demand, pathogens, nitrogen, phosphorous, hydrocarbons, and metals. However, they also can be purposely designed, monitored, and integrated within the landscape to provide attractive and quality habitat for wildlife. Other ancillary benefits are also commonly realized, such as water reclamation, outdoor recreation, and aesthetic improvements. Constructed wetlands are in operation across the country to address municipal waters, stormwater, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharges. This project presents a rare opportunity to recover water and land resources negatively impacted by agriculture, flood control, and industry and more efficiently manage them to benefit businesses, nature, and communities.

Accomplishments

Sustainable Conservation produced a first of its kind feasibility study in 2002, Wastewater to Wetlands: Opportunities for California Agriculture, which indicated that fruit and vegetable processors and wineries are best-suited to initiate wetland conservation on their land. This belief is based on the industry's dominance of private lands in the Central Valley, an abundant non-toxic water source, proximity to massive historic wetlands losses and the Pacific Flyway, water quality concerns associated with conventional land disposal of wastewater, and relatively affordable lands. Since publication of the study, we have worked with stakeholders to ground-truth the findings of the study and spell out the conditions at food processing and winery operations that are best suited to creation of wetlands that reliably and cost-effectively complement or replace existing treatment options, as well as provide much needed wildlife habitat and other value-added benefits

Next Steps

We are pursuing two key strategies to champion wider adoption of constructed wetlands by food processors and wineries in California in 2004-2005. They are:

• Build a Fully-Functional Constructed Wetland: Work with a food processor or winery to design and install a constructed wetland at their facility to showcase the performance and benefits for the industry.
• Publish our new guidance titled, Are Constructed Wetlands Right For My Business? - A Guide for California Food Processors and Wineries: This guide is an introductory resource that provides background information, decision-making aids, and suggestions to help food processors and wineries make an informed decision about implementing a constructed wetland at their facility. A copy of this guide is available for download on this page.

For More Information

For more information on constructed wetlands, please refer to our Links page or contact Mike Gerel, Project Manager, Sustainable Conservation, at (415) 977-0380, ext. 312.