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Geographically Isolated Wetlands:
A Preliminary Assessment of their Characteristics and Status
in Selected Areas of the United States
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

Wetlands are among the Nation's most scarce and valuable natural resources. Geographically isolated wetlands are vital fish and wildlife habitats that are also important to people. These wetlands are completely surrounded by upland, with no apparent surface water outlet. They are often a prevalent feature of landscapes with an abundance of geographic depressions.

The Fish and Wildlife Service prepared this report to provide an ecological and geographic overview of these important wetland resources of the United States.

This report does not address the regulation of wetlands, and the maps do not depict Isolated Wetlands for jurisdictional purposes.

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