Wetlands are a vital part of the landscape and ecology of the United States, providing food and shelter for species ranging from the beautiful wood duck to the tiny fairy shrimp. These areas provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife, protect communities from flooding, and recharge groundwater supplies—yet they continue to be destroyed at an alarming rate. A detailed analysis of wetlands management, Wetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair is a comprehensive guide to the past, present, and future of wetland recovery in the United States. The book includes a historical overview of wetland destruction and repair over the past two hundred years and also serves as a unique resource for anyone, from novice to engineer, interested in the process of wetland restoration. Author Thomas R. Biebighauser draws from his own vast experience in building and repairing more than 950 wetlands across North America. Included are numerous photographs and case studies that highlight successes of past projects. Detailed, step-by-step instructions guide the reader through the planning and implementation of each restoration action. Biebighauser also provides a number of effective strategies for initiating and improving funding for wetlands programs. Wetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair is essential reading for all who care about and for these important ecosystems.

Looks at the ways Americans have altered the landscape from the arrival of early Spanish settlers to the beginning of the country's rapid urbanization

Willtown was founded in the late 17th century on the banks of the South Edisto River, but the movement of the Willtown Church in the 1760s to another location marked the demise of the town. Hugh C. Lane Jr. encouraged The Charleston Museum in its research in and around the Willtown area, asking the question, "Why did Willtown fail?" "Our serendipitous discovery of James Stobo's rice plantation a mile from Willtown revealed a site remarkable in its pristine preservation, the clarity of its stratigraphic record, the number and types of artifacts recovered, and in the complexity of its architectural detail."--Introduction, p. 1.