Why Wetlands Matter

In just six days, the Black Creek absorbed more than 3.5 inches of rain

Did you know that wetlands are some of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet? Spend even a few hours exploring any wetland in our region and you will see a stunning variety of wildlife. These include beavers, otters, frogs, turtles, and a host of unique insects and rare birds—to name but a few. Wetlands also sustain an incredible range of trees, shrubs, grasses, and ferns that deliver important benefits throughout the web of life. The nutrient-rich soil and water provide ample resources.

Wetlands teem with an abundance of wildlife, but they also provide significant benefits for humans, too: flood and erosion control, water filtration, groundwater recharge, and even improved air quality. In fact, wetlands are some of nature’s best remedies for improving the lives of wildlife and people—and that’s why we’re focusing our efforts on them. 

Imagine a powerful storm sweeping through Western New York, one that pummels the region with heavy rain that turns city streets into rivers and fills basements with water. In rural communities, the rains blow out roads and infrastructure, creating unsafe driving conditions and destroying crops.

With more and more natural land being logged or developed in WNY and paved over with asphalt and concrete, the severity of such floods has grown more acute. Hard, impenetrable surfaces block the water from seeping into the ground—creating the very conditions that produce destructive floods. In their natural state, wetlands serve as giant sponges that absorb and store excess rainwater, reducing the risk of flooding. Take a look at the two photos at the top of this page, for example. This year, between May 2 and May 6, the Black Creek watershed was drenched with over 3.5 inches of rain. Thanks to the amazing absorption qualities of the intact wetlands, water levels returned to normal in just six days.

Bald Eagle at Black Creek Preserve

In recent years, we have protected a number of important wetlands that are home to some of the most biodiverse plant and animal communities in our region, including the College Lodge Forest and the Floating Fen Preserve in Chautauqua County. With your help, we aim to protect an additional 539 acres of wetlands and forests in Allegany County. Announced earlier this year, these five properties are known collectively as the “Black Creek Protection Projects.”

The Black Creek watershed contains critical Class I Wetlands, among the most ecologically valuable and functionally important landscapes in Western New York. Their complex ecosystems sustain everything from amphibians and birds to native plants and pollinators, making them biodiversity hotspots. By conserving these lands, we’re protecting wildlife, safeguarding clean drinking water for thousands of people, mitigating storm damage, and laying the groundwork for a future public nature preserve that will open new opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors.

*

This post was originally published in the Fall '25 issue of the Land Conservancy's print newsletter, The Resource. E-mail Kyle Semmel (ksemmel@wnylc.org) to subscribe and get your copy.

Learn More about the Black Creek Protection Projects