About this guideEditorial summary of the listed sources.
Water shapes habitat
Wetlands support living communities, water availability, and disaster-risk reduction. Their condition reflects activities upstream as well as on the site itself.
Change is not always obvious
Drainage, pollution, and altered flows can change habitat function. Calm-looking water is not evidence that an entire ecosystem is healthy.
Look for connections
When learning about a site, note links among wetlands, rivers, waterside vegetation, and surrounding land. Separate observations from conclusions requiring surveys.
Help within the catchment
Join coordinated monitoring or clean-up work. Do not release fish, turtles, or companion animals into waterways as a rescue gesture.
Sources & references
References can change. Check dates and context in the original source.