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The significance of "isolated" wetlands In 2002, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a study of Geographically Isolated Wetlands in response to the Supreme Court ruling the previous year. The study recognizes that, although the wetlands are isolated geographically, they contribute to overall "chemical, physical and biological integrity" and should continue to be protected under the Clean Water Act. Ironically, despite its obvious relevance, the administration failed to mention the study in their announced notice of a proposed rulemaking or in their guidance addressing "isolated" waters. The full report is available online and is a useful tool in understanding the nature of "isolated" wetlands, including many of the ways in which they are valuable. If you are interested in determining which wetlands in your state might be considered isolated, the section entitled "Profiles of Selected Isolated Wetland Types" in the second chapter, describes 19 different types of geographically isolated wetlands and mentions some of the states in which they are commonly found.
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