WRP defines wetlands restoration as "the act, process, or result of returning a degraded wetland or a former wetland to a close approximation of its condition prior to disturbance." This definition encompasses many different activities such as removing material from a filled wetland, restoring tidal flow to a restricted wetland, and controlling invasive plant species. Wetlands restoration is an important public pursuit because wetlands provide many services to society and are arguably the most biologically productive features of the landscape. The goal of restoring wetlands is to bring back their lost functions and values, including the ability to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and provide critical habitat for a host of life forms.

The values of wetlands and the services they provide have only recently gained human appreciation. Prior to the “environmental awakening” of the 1970s, wetlands were viewed by most people as unproductive, fetid “swamps” that were only useful for farming, dumping wastes, or draining and filling to expand buildable areas. This historic view produced devastating consequences for aquatic habitats. Before the enactment of early legal protections, Massachusetts lost approximately one-third of its original wetland areas to human alterations. The Commonwealth's wetlands have endured many different kinds of impacts including filling, flooding, draining, ditching, pollution, and restriction of tidal hydrology.

Visit the Project Types page to learn more about common wetland impacts and types of restoration activities.