No-Net-Loss PolicyA 1990 study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed a startling fact: more than half of the 221 million acres of wetlands that existed in the lower 48 states in the late 1700s have been destroyed. Since the 1990s, the National Park Service has operated under a “no-net-loss of wetlands” policy. Under this policy, any construction or other activity on park lands that has adverse impacts on wetlands must compensate by restoring at least one acre of wetlands for each acre degraded or destroyed. This and other National Park Service wetland protection policies have kept new impacts on wetlands to a minimum. Net-Gain GoalHowever, thousands of acres of wetlands in our national parks have been damaged or destroyed by land-use practices and activities that occurred before they became part of the national park system. National Park Service management policies address this concern with a “net gain of wetlands” goal, to be accomplished through restoration. Specifically, our wetland policies direct parks to identify sites where wetlands have been degraded or lost due to human activities and restore them to their pre-disturbance conditions. 
NPS Photo Wetland Restoration in ParksMany parks have completed or are actively restoring wetlands of all types. These complicated, interconnected systems often take thorough resource knowledge and planning to restore. NPS scientists work hand-in-hand with resource managers, community members, and other organizations to thoughtfully approach restoration work. Explore the wetland restoration stories below to find out more. Projects in the Spotlight
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Last updated: June 2, 2025