WETLAND PROCESSES AND WATER-QUALITY - A SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW

Wetlands are ecotones that buffer the interactions of terrestrial and aquatic systems. Considered wastelands until relatively recently, thei r value is currently being recognized with greater public awareness an d development of a national policy. Wetlands protect aquatic systems f rom upland environments through sedimentation and filtration of runoff and providing environments for nutrient assimilation. Likewise, wetla nds can protect uplands from aquatic systems by diverting and dissipat ing floodwater volume and energy. Major research needs in the area of wetland science include: (i) wetland delineation, (ii) characterizatio n of wetland soils, and (iii) biogeochemical processes in soil and wat er column regulating the water quality. This overview provides a brief introduction to the papers presented at a symposium entitled ''Wetlan d Processes and Water Quality'' sponsored by Division A-5 of the Ameri can Society of Agronomy and S Divisions within the Soil Science Societ y of America.