Quick Key Facts
- Wetlands exist on every continent except Antarctica.
- Wetlands are home to hydrophytes, literally water plants.
- Freshwater marshes are the most common and widespread wetlands in North America.
- The Sundarbans in India and Bangladesh is a saltwater swamp that boasts the world’s biggest uninterrupted mangrove forest at 140,000 hectares.
- Wetlands provide habitat or breeding grounds for 40% of all plant and animal species.
- Peatlands cover only around 3% of the Earth’s surface but store around 30% of its soil carbon.
- According to one estimate, wetlands are disappearing at three times the rate of forests and are considered the world’s most imperiled ecosystem.
- Nearly half of the tidal wetlands along the U.S. coast are vulnerable to sea-level rise by 2100.
- In Sackett v. EPA, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a wetland only had federal protection if its surface waters touched the waters of a navigable body of water.
- In the Lower 48 U.S. states, 75% of remaining wetlands are on private land.
What Are ‘Wetlands’?
A wetland is exactly what it sounds like: ground that is covered by or saturated with water for all or part of the year. The water that makes a wetland can come from a variety of different sources, including ocean tides; freshwater sources like lakes, rivers, or ponds; underground aquifers, or rain.
Wetlands are found on every continent except Antarctica. Some famous examples are the Everglades in Florida, the Pantanal in Brazil and Monadh Mor in Scotland. There is an amazing diversity of wetlands based on how frequently their soils are saturated, the surrounding climate and the source of the water, among other factors. All wetlands have moistened soils that are described as hydric, and these soils nurture water-loving plants, called hydrophytes. Hydrophyte literally comes from the Greek words for “water” and “plant.” These plants can either spend their lives under the water, floating on top of it or submerged in moist soils and range from mangrove trees to duckweed, but they are all adapted to a watery, low-oxygen environment.
In the past, wetlands were often dismissed as waste areas or sources of mosquitoes and disease. Because of this, human societies have often not treated them with the respect they deserve, either filling them in to build cities, draining them for farmland or using them as garbage dumps. However, wetlands are actually vitally important ecosystems that perform essential functions, from purifying water to storing carbon. As human activities like the burning of fossil fuels push the climate toward a tipping point, wetlands are more important than ever.
What Are the Main Types of Wetlands?
There are many different types of wetlands and means of classifying them. Broadly, wetlands can be divided into coastal or tidal wetlands and inland or non-tidal wetlands. In the U.S., different agencies have different systems for classifying wetlands based on factors like geography, vegetation, water source and how the water flows through the landscape. However, according to National Geographic, there are three basic types of wetlands recognized by scientists: marshes, swamps and bogs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also includes a fourth type: the fen. Other names for wetlands you may be familiar with include mires, muskegs, sloughs, playa lakes, vernal pools, wet meadows, pocosins, lagoons and deltas.
Marshes
A marsh is a wetland that is frequently or always flooded and where long-stem plants grow in water-saturated soils. They are most common in mid latitudes, and they are divided into tidal or saltwater marshes and non-tidal or freshwater marshes. Tidal or saltwater marshes are often found near estuaries — a biodiverse habitat where a river opens out into the ocean. Typical plants in saltwater marshes include smooth cordgrass close to the tide and short smooth cordgrass, spike grass and saltmeadow rush farther from the shore. Examples are the saltwater marshes of northern Australia — home to the saltwater crocodile — and the salt marshes surrounding Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay.
The Transquaking River feeds into the Fishing Bay salt marsh near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, Maryland, on June 5, 2018. Will Parson / Chesapeake Bay Program
Freshwater or non-tidal marshes are typically found by rivers, streams or lakes, or in depressions where water can gather. Typical vegetation includes bulrushes, reeds, lilly pads and cattails. Freshwater marshes are the most common and widespread types of wetlands in North America. Examples include much of the Everglades and prairie potholes — depressions left in the ground by melting chunks of glacier that created wetlands as they melted. These are important resting stops for migratory birds.
Swamps
A swamp is a wetland characterized by woody plants. Swamps can be divided into either freshwater and saltwater swamps or forested swamps and shrub swamps. All swamps are home to water-tolerant trees or shrubs, but the species depend on the climate and location. There are many freshwater swamps in the tropics, where it is hot and humid all year, but there are swamps as far north as the boreal forests of Russia, Alaska and Canada. Freshwater swamp plants can range from red maples in the northeastern U.S. to cypress in the U.S. south. Swampy shrubs include willows, button bush and smooth alder. One famous example of a freshwater swamp is the Louisiana bayou.
Saltwater swamps are mostly found in the tropics along coastal sand flats or mudflats.The water in saltwater swamps is brackish, meaning it is a mix of salt and freshwater. The trees that typically live in saltwater swamps are called mangroves, which have tall roots that hold their short trunks above water level. Mangroves both attract soil, keep it in place and help create it when they decay. They also provide habitat for marine animals and birds. One example of a saltwater swamp is the Sundarbans in India and Bangladesh, which boasts the world’s biggest uninterrupted mangrove forest at 140,000 hectares. The swamp is home to 260 bird species, the estuarine crocodile, the Indian python and the Bengal tiger.
Bogs
A bog is a type of wetland that is formed when sphagnum moss and other plants accumulate, either trapping the water from a pre-existing lake or pond or collecting and trapping rain water. Most of the current water in a bog comes from rainwater, not groundwater or another source. Because of the water source and the presence of mosses, bog soil and water is acidic and has less nutrients. This means that bogs are not as fertile and only nurture certain types of plants that therefore only attract certain animals. Carnivorous plants like pitcher plants and sundew are some of the unique plants that favor bogs, while cranberries and blueberries are some of the few crops that can be grown in them. One large animal that does spend time in bogs is the moose, who feeds on aquatic plants. Examples of bogs include the cranberry bogs of Massachusetts and the Great Kemeri Bog in Latvia’s Kemeri National Park.
Over time, the plant matter that builds up at the bottom of a bog turns to peat. That means a bog is a type of peatland, or an area where there are 20 to 40 centimeters of peat in the top 80 centimeters of soil. Between 50 and 70% of all wetlands are peatlands. Peat is a fuel in its own right, and can turn into coal with more time and pressure. In addition, bogs are very good at preserving things because of their lack of oxygen and the presence of natural tannins, which are used in preserving leather. Several “bog bodies” — human corpses with hair and clothing — have been found in bogs dating from thousands of years ago, mostly in northern Europe. The most well-preserved “bog body” is Tollund Man, who was found in Denmark’s Bjældskovdal bog in 1950 but lived around 280 B.C.E. He was found wearing a sheepskin hat, an ox-skin belt and skin covering all but his arms and hands.
Fens
Fens are similar to bogs in that they are wetlands that create peat over time. They are also more common in the Northern Hemisphere. However, they are distinct in that they do not rely on rain or snow for their nutrients, instead accessing them via water flowing downhill or through groundwater below. Because of this, they have a broader diversity of plants and animals, including rushes, wildflowers, sedges and grasses.
What Are the Benefits of Wetlands?
Wetlands only cover 6% of the Earth’s land area, but they are vitally important for plant and animal life, nutrient and water cycles and human well-being.
Providing Habitat
Wetlands are very important for biodiversity. About 40% of the Earth’s plants and animals either live or breed in wetlands. In fact, wetlands are on par with coral reefs and tropical rainforests for being some of the world’s most productive ecosystems. This is because they are “biological supermarkets.” Plant matter decays in the water to become detritus, which provides food for insects, small fish and shellfish that then attract larger fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Wetlands play an important role in the life cycles of several species, including salmon, trout, oysters and blue crabs. Some species live only in wetlands, including more than one-third of those on the U.S. endangered and threatened species list. Many birds rely on wetlands for at least part of the year. They are important pit stops for migrating birds, and some migratory species would go extinct without certain wetlands.
Improving Water Quality
Wetlands act as a natural water filtration system, keeping larger bodies of water like rivers and oceans clean. When water enters a wetland, its pace is slowed by the many plants, allowing any sediments within it to become suspended in the wetlands. These sediments, which are often attached to toxic chemicals or nutrient pollution like excess nitrogen or phosphorus from agriculture or wastewater, are then absorbed by plants or settle at the bottom of the wetland. Natural processes can absorb excess nutrients into the wetlands’ nutrient cycle or turn toxic chemicals into less toxic forms. If water passes through a wetland, up to 90% of the sediment within it may be trapped by the wetland, allowing the water to run clear.
Managing Water Flow
Wetlands can also help prevent or reduce the impact of flooding by absorbing excess water and then letting it enter the surrounding landscape or groundwater at a slower pace. Indeed, one acre of wetland can store up to 1.5 million gallons of excess water. The vegetation in wetlands can slow flood waters as well. While this water storage reduces the severity of floods, it also delays the beginning of droughts during drier periods. On the coasts, wetlands can help protect inland areas from storm surges by absorbing both water and wave energy. Mangroves, for example, can act as a natural storm break. Along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, where hurricanes are a yearly hazard, wetlands prevent almost $700,000 in storm damage per square mile each year on average.
Sequestering Carbon
Another thing that scientists are learning about wetlands in the context of the climate crisis is that they are natural sinks for carbon dioxide, drawing down around 8.1 million tons of carbon dioxide from the air annually. “All ecosystems store carbon, but wetlands store a lot more than all the rest,” said Michigan Tech School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science professor Rod Chimner. Coastal wetlands may sequester carbon as much as 55 times faster than tropical rainforests. Peatlands are also important carbon sinks — while they only take up around 3% of the Earth’s land area, they store around 30% of its soil carbon.
Supporting Local Economies
Because they are such productive ecosystems, wetlands can also provide many economic benefits to humans if managed sustainably. In fact, more than one billion people derive their livelihoods from wetlands. For example, many fisheries depend on wetlands to keep their population numbers high, including more than half of the U.S. commercial seafood harvest. Several crops are cultivated in wetlands, such as cranberries, blueberries and wild rice. In addition, wetlands provide opportunities for ecotourism through kayaking, birdwatching and other water-based activities.
Cultural Benefits
While some human societies have dismissed or disparaged wetlands, others have developed close cultural ties with them. The Cajun culture in Louisiana, for example, is intimately tied to life on the bayou. Wetlands have inspired cultural traditions and mythology from all over the world, from crane festivals in Japan to the legend of the kelpie, the Celtic water horse that is sometimes drawn with a mane of bulrushes. Many Indigenous peoples around the world have developed their cultures based on wetlands, and these ecosystems remain important for their spirituality and livelihoods.
What Are the Main Threats Facing Wetlands?
Despite their irreplaceable value, wetlands have historically been undervalued by settler or industrial societies, to devastating consequences. In the U.S., more than half of all of the wetlands in the lower 48 states were drained between the 1600s and today. Globally, the Ramsan Convention on Wetlands calculated that 35% of all wetlands have been lost since 1970, and that they are now disappearing at three times the rate of forests, making them the world’s most imperiled type of ecosystem. A 2023 study published in Nature put the extent of global loss at a lower but still significant 21% between 1700 and 2020, with the U.S. taking the lead for greatest wetland loss of any country. While the rate of wetland loss has declined in the U.S. since the 1970s, it still loses around 60,000 acres a year.
Agriculture
Land-use change is the greatest threat to wetlands both historically and currently, with conversion of wild lands to agricultural lands being the leading cause of wetland loss. Agriculture has degraded more than half of the Wetlands of International Importance. In some cases, wetlands will be drained to be converted to cropland. This can be counterproductive, as wetlands can actually support agriculture if left alone by providing soil nutrients, water for grazing animals and drought prevention, among other benefits. However, livestock grazing can harm wetlands when not properly managed, as the animals may devour plants that help prevent erosion of streambanks and sedimentation of the water.
Development
Wetlands have also been drained and filled to be turned into human developments. Major cities including London, Venice, New Orleans and New York were all built on wetlands. In the U.S., pressure from development is overtaking agriculture as the leading cause of wetland loss. Converting wetlands into urban areas can worsen flooding because the water-absorbing vegetation is replaced with impervious materials like concrete.
Dams
The damming of rivers for agriculture or energy can harm wetlands by diverting water away from them. By altering the flow of rivers, these dams can reduce seasonal flooding, causing certain wetlands to shrink and harming the species that depend on them for habitat. One example is the Colorado River Delta, which was once the largest wetland in North America but dwindled over the 20th century as almost 90% of the Colorado River was diverted for households, farms and energy in the U.S. before even reaching Mexico. While the delta has largely dried up, there are now efforts in place to restore it.
Pollution
While wetlands are adept at filtering pollutants, sometimes the amount of contaminants that human activities dump into the environment can become too much for them. In addition, as wetlands disappear, this puts more pressure on the remaining wetlands to filter more toxins. Major pollutants that harm wetlands include sediment, fertilizer, human and animal waste, pesticides and heavy metals. These pollutants can then harm the plants and animals in the wetlands. For example, fertilizer pollution can encourage too many plants to grow, which then deprive the remaining wetland plants and animals of oxygen as they die and decay. The rise in plastic pollution is also impacting wetlands, killing birds and turtles. Another recent study found that tire particles are harming organisms in estuaries.
Climate Crisis
The climate crisis threatens coastal wetlands through sea-level rise and coastal erosion, while it exposes others to drought and desertification. For example, 43 to 48% of the tidal wetlands along the U.S. coast are vulnerable to sea-level rise by 2100. Globally, 20 to 90% of coastal wetlands may be swallowed by higher ocean levels. Wetlands in the Arctic and in mountain ecosystems are also especially at risk from climate change as rapid ice melt alters these environments.
What Is Sackett v. EPA and How Does It Impact Wetlands?
One recent impediment to the protection of wetlands in the U.S. is the Supreme Court decision Sackett v. EPA. This decision, ruled in 2023, involved what counts as part of the “waters of the United States” that the federal government is authorized to protect under the Clean Water Act of 1972. For most of the act’s history, waters of the United States, or WOTUS, have been interpreted to mean any body of water in a given watershed. In Sackett v. EPA, however, the court ruled that only navigable waters, streams leading directly to navigable waters or wetlands directly connected via surface water to navigable waters merit federal protections. This puts many wetlands that may be connected to a larger river via groundwater, vegetation or downhill flow at risk from development.
How Can We Protect Wetlands?
Despite the many threats to wetlands, there is growing awareness of their ecological importance as well as a growing movement to both save existing wetlands and restore degraded ones.
Preservation
There are many ways to preserve wetlands on the global, national, local and individual level. The Convention on Wetlands is an international treaty aimed at the conservation and “wise use” of wetlands. It was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, and today nearly 90% of UN member states are “contracting parties.” The internationally recognized goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030 can also be an opportunity to protect wetland ecosystems. One recent example is the protection in 2022 of Argentina’s Mitre Peninsula, which included one of South America’s largest peatlands.
In the Lower 48 U.S, nearly 75% of wetlands are on private land, so it is vital that people with wetlands on their property act as stewards. Individuals who care about wetlands can lobby for national, state, or local laws that protect wetlands; volunteer or donate money to organizations that preserve wetlands; oppose developments that would harm or fill wetlands; and reduce the runoff of pollution into wetlands by installing rain barrels and permeable surfaces in their yards and avoiding pesticides and nutrient-rich fertilizers.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, worked with private landowners on the habitat for the Oregon chub on a Wetlands Reserve Program site known as the Dunn Pond. The program allows landowners to voluntarily restore and protect wetlands. NRCS Oregon / Flickr
Restoration
It is also possible to restore wetlands that have been damaged or degraded. This can happen through both re-establishing the wetland environment and rehabilitating the function of the ecosystem. In the U.S., wetland restoration is sometimes required by law to offset the permitted destruction of or damage to a wetland for a particular project.
There are many examples of wetland restoration projects. One example is the concept of “sponge cities” in China. Urban planners are replacing concrete flood walls or river banks with plants and parks to help prevent floods and restore urban wetlands. Another example is the effort to bring water flow back to the Colorado River Delta. A 2018 study of these efforts found that restored areas attracted 74% more birds and 20% more bird species than areas that were not.
Takeaway
Wetlands are unique and valuable ecosystems that provide tremendous benefits for both non-human and human life — if humans can learn to appreciate them. In the past few centuries of industrial development, human societies have often worked against wetlands, seeing them as obstacles to growing food or building settlements. This attitude has harmed both wetlands and humans, leading, for example, to dwindling fisheries and cities that flood more regularly and intensely.
But if human societies can learn to once again work with wetlands, these amazing marshes, swamps, bogs and fens can help to protect against storms, reduce flooding, restore biodiversity, fight the climate crisis and make the world a little more extraordinary.
The post Wetlands 101: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/wetlands-facts-ecowatch.html
Just over half the country is officially in drought, and about 155.7 million Americans—almost seven million more than last week—are now affected. The U.S. Drought Monitor’s April 23 report shows that 52.46% of the United States and Puerto Rico, and 62.78% of the Lower 48, are experiencing moderate drought or worse. According to NOAA, this is the worst spring drought on record for the continental United States.
This drought is not limited to one region. The Southeast just had its driest September-through-March since records began in 1895. The Colorado River system is only 36% full. Texas is 77% in drought, and Corpus Christi’s reservoirs have dropped to nearly 9%. Nebraska experienced its largest wildfire ever, fueled by dry grasslands. Oregon’s snowpack reached zero on April 1. In California, Tahoe City Cross melted completely by March 8, 40 days earlier than usual, after a record-breaking March heat wave caused rapid melting of an already low snowpack across most of the West.
The common factor is that from January through March, precipitation was below 70% of average across the lower 48 states, setting a new record. As a result, water restrictions are now broader and, in many places, more severe than usual.
The National Picture
The headline numbers come from the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. As of April 21, drought conditions had worsened across the South, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, High Plains, and West, with a 2.9% increase in coverage over the past week and an 11.7% increase over the past month. The Northeast and parts of Texas and the eastern Plains saw modest improvement; everywhere else trended drier.
Two main climate factors have caused this record drought. First, La Niña led to less rainfall from January to March, with totals below 70% of average—the lowest since records began in 1895, just surpassing the previous low in 1910. Second, spring temperatures in the Central Plains, Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic were 5 to 10 degrees above normal, which sped up soil moisture loss and increased evaporation. This drought is not just about low rainfall; high temperatures are also drying out what little moisture remains.
The effects of the drought are already clear in the number of wildfires. By mid-April, over 1.7 million acres had burned across the country, nearly double the 10-year average. Nebraska’s Morrill Fire, which burned more than 640,000 acres in March, was the largest in the state’s history. In southeastern Georgia, the Highway 82 Fire destroyed at least 54 structures in Brantley County, which was the first county in the Southeast to reach exceptional drought (“D4”).
Southwest: The Colorado River Approaches a Threshold
The Colorado River Basin is facing water shortages not seen in modern times. The Bureau of Reclamation says the system is at about 36% of capacity. Lake Powell is only 23% full, and Lake Mead is about one-third full. Spring runoff into Lake Powell is expected to be just 22% of average. If this continues, 2026 could be one of the driest years in over sixty years, possibly even drier than 2002, which was the previous record.
In response, the Bureau of Reclamation announced in April that it plans to cut Lake Powell releases to 6 million acre-feet, the lowest in decades. They will also move water from Flaming Gorge to keep Lake Powell high enough for Glen Canyon Dam to generate hydropower. The dam provides electricity to about five million people, but water levels could drop too low by December if things do not improve. The seven states that share the Colorado River have not agreed on new rules for after 2026, when current guidelines expire. The Interior Department has said it may set new rules on its own if no agreement is reached this summer. Western states could be heading toward a conflict over water.
Local water restrictions are getting stricter. In March 2026, Erie, Colorado, moved to a Level 4 Emergency, the highest stage, which bans all residential sprinkler use. Aurora has completely banned new turf lawns. Denver Water started Stage 1 restrictions, asking residents to cut both indoor and outdoor water use by 20% until October 1. Along the Rio Grande, Elephant Butte is at 12.6% capacity, Falcon at 19.2%, and Amistad at 31.4%.
California: Permanent Rules Meet a Fourth Dry Year
California’s situation is more complex than just being in drought or not. In January 2026, the Drought Monitor showed no part of California in drought for the first time in 25 years. By April, Southern California was facing its fourth straight year of below-average rainfall. The statewide snowpack was only 18% of normal, and the State Water Project will limit water releases to 30% of normal.
What’s notable is that California’s restrictions no longer depend on whether a drought is officially declared. After the 2012-2017 drought, the state moved to a permanent year-round conservation framework codified by state law AB 1572 and the State Water Resources Control Board’s “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” rules.
Statewide baseline rules apply every year, regardless of conditions: no hosing down driveways or hardscape; no irrigation within 48 hours of rainfall; no irrigation runoff into streets or storm drains; mandatory shutoff nozzles on hoses; and recirculation requirements for fountains and decorative water features.
On top of these restrictions, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves 19 million people, issued a Level 1 conservation notice in March 2026 to all 26 city and county agency members. State enforcement of the new water-budget rules is paused until 2027 to give utilities time to adjust.
California is in for a dry summer this year.
Southeast: A Recharge Season That Failed
The Southeast, usually a humid region, is now facing a record drought. Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina all had their driest September-through-March since 1895. Normally, the region relies on December through March to restore soil moisture, streamflows, and groundwater, but this year, that recharge mostly did not occur.
The result, as of April: 100% of North Carolina, 99.95% of Virginia, 99.34% of South Carolina, 98.99% of Florida, 98.13% of Georgia, 93.65% of Tennessee, and 88.66% of Alabama are in drought. In Georgia, extreme drought now covers 71% of the state, the highest reading since 2012. Some monitoring stations with 75 or more years of data are recording their driest six-month periods on record. Drought watches are active across Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama, with mandatory rules likely if late-spring rainfall doesn’t materialize.
Texas and the Southern Plains: Cities at the Edge
Texas is 77% in drought as of mid-April. The Coastal Bend story is the one to watch closely. Combined storage at Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi has fallen to 8.7% as of April 2026 — among the lowest levels ever recorded. Corpus Christi has been under Stage 3 mandatory restrictions since December 2024, the most severe stage in the city’s standard drought contingency plan, which is triggered when combined reservoir storage drops below 20% capacity. Stage 3 bans all outdoor irrigation, home vehicle washing, and most non-essential outdoor water use; second and subsequent violations carry fines up to $2,000 each.
The bigger concern is what happens next. City models now predict a Level 1 Water Emergency by September 2026, when the water supply could be just 180 days from running out. On April 28, 2026, the City Council postponed a vote on a proposal that would require everyone—residents, businesses, and industry—to cut water use by 25% if Level 1 is declared. Many residents at the meeting said this cut would be impossible unless industrial users reduce even more.
If Corpus Christi runs out of water—a scenario city officials now consider possible—it would be the first modern American city to face this. There is no guidebook for what to do. In the worst case, the city could see rolling water shutoffs by district, water delivered by tanker trucks, and even managed evacuations. The largest industrial users, such as petrochemical refineries, would likely lose access to water first, potentially leading to lawsuits.
In other parts of Texas, Dallas has had a permanent rule since 2001 that only allows watering lawns two days a week, and no irrigation is allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from April to October. In Oklahoma and Kansas, the Ranger Road Fire—the largest U.S. wildfire of 2026 so far—burned 283,283 acres in February, killed hundreds of livestock, and led to burn bans across central and eastern Oklahoma.
High Plains: Dust, Fire, and Lake Beds
Nebraska is experiencing conditions that one state climatologist said are unlike anything seen before. Fifty-six percent of the state is in extreme drought, similar to 2012 but with warmer temperatures. The Morrill Fire started in March and quickly spread through dry grasslands, burning over 640,000 acres—the largest wildfire in Nebraska’s history. In Sheridan County, some landowners say their private lakes have dried up completely for the first time since 2012.
The Black Hills in South Dakota are now in extreme drought. In southern Nebraska, southwest Kansas, and southeast Colorado, low rainfall combined with high temperatures and evaporation have made spring planting difficult in many areas. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that streamflows are below or much below normal across southwestern South Dakota, southern Nebraska, and central and western Kansas.
Mandatory urban restrictions in this region are still relatively rare, but burn bans are widespread, and ranchers are culling cattle herds rather than feeding them on pastures with no grass.
Pacific Northwest: A Snow Drought, Not a Rain Drought
The Pacific Northwest had more precipitation this winter than the Southwest, but most of it fell as rain instead of snow because of record-warm temperatures. This has caused a snow drought rather than a rain drought. Since the region relies on snowpack for summer water, this is a serious problem.
Across the broader Columbia River Basin, snowpack ranks in the second percentile. On April 8, Washington’s Department of Ecology declared a statewide Drought Emergency, citing snowpack at just 53% of the median and projected summer water supply below 75% of normal in many basins, including the Yakima. Junior water-rights holders in the Yakima Basin are projected to receive only 44% of their allotment. Idaho is facing what could be its fourth consecutive drought year in its northern basins.
For the Northwest, the effects go beyond just this summer. New research from Oregon State University predicts that by the end of the century, water will move from precipitation to streamflow about 18% faster on average. This happens because there is less snow and more rain, so water moves through the system more quickly instead of slowly melting from snowpack. As a result, there could be about 50% less water in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs during the summer growing season.
The shift toward earlier runoff seen in 2026 is not a one-time event. It is a preview of the more severe impacts that climate change could bring.
Where Restrictions Are Active
This is a partial snapshot as of April 27, 2026. Local utilities update stages weekly. Verify before relying on these figures.
| Region | Location | Stage / Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | Erie, CO | Level 4 Emergency | All residential sprinklers banned; most severe Front Range stage |
| Southwest | Aurora, CO | Stage 1 + turf ban | New turf lawn installations prohibited |
| Southwest | Denver, CO | Stage 1 (through Oct. 1) | Watering schedule by address |
| California | MWD Southern Calif. region | Level 1 conservation notice | Issued March 2026; covers 19M residents |
| California | San Francisco (SFPUC) | Level 2 | Tied to Hetch Hetchy levels |
| California | Sacramento | Stage 2 | Folsom Lake at 48% |
| Southeast | SW Florida (SWFWMD) | Phase III (Apr 3 – Jul 1) | Possible extension if summer rains fail |
| Southeast | Raleigh, NC | Mandatory Stage 1 (from Apr 20) | Odd/even address watering schedule |
| Southeast | Valdosta, GA | Mandatory 1-day/week (from Apr 15) | First Georgia city to move to mandatory rules |
| Texas | Corpus Christi | Stage 3 — Reservoir Crisis | Reservoirs at 8.7%; 25% cut planned for September |
| Texas | Dallas | Permanent 2-day/week | Ordinance since 2001; no irrigation 10am–6pm Apr–Oct |
| Pacific NW | Washington (statewide) | Drought Emergency (Apr 8) | Snowpack at 53% of median; Yakima Basin junior rights cut to 44% |
| Pacific NW | Oregon (snow drought) | No statewide order yet | Snow water equivalent at zero percentile on April 1 |
What You Can Do
Households use about 10% of all water in the U.S. Agriculture is still the biggest user, but in cities with restrictions, saving water at home can help prevent stricter rules, fines, or limits on businesses. The EPA’s WaterSense program says the average American family uses about 300 gallons a day, and simple upgrades can cut indoor use by 35%.
Indoor (immediate, no cost):
- Check your home for leaks. On average, American homes waste over 11,000 gallons a year from running toilets and dripping faucets. A single toilet leak can waste 200 gallons a day. To test for leaks, put food coloring in the tank—if it shows up in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak.
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving. This can save 8 to 10 gallons per person each day.
- Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. You can also skip pre-rinsing dishes.
- Take shorter showers. Reducing your shower by two minutes with a standard showerhead can save about 5 gallons of water.
Indoor (small investment):
- Install WaterSense-labeled fixtures. Faucet aerators and showerheads use at least 20% less water and are inexpensive. The average family can save about 3,500 gallons of water and 410 kWh of energy each year just by using these.
- Replace any toilet made before 1992. Older toilets use 4 gallons per flush, while WaterSense models use 1.28 gallons or less.
Outdoor (where most savings can happen):
- Outdoor irrigation uses nearly 9 billion gallons of water a day nationwide. It makes up about 30% of household water use, and up to 70% in dry areas. Water your yard before sunrise or after sunset to reduce evaporation.
- Consider replacing your lawn with drought-tolerant plants that are suited to your region. This type of landscaping uses less than half the water of a traditional lawn. Many cities, such as Aurora, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, offer rebates for replacing turf.
- Install a smart irrigation controller with a rain shutoff or soil moisture sensor. These devices adjust watering based on real conditions instead of following a set schedule.
- Add 2 to 3 inches of wood chips as mulch to your flower beds and vegetable gardens. This helps reduce evaporation and keeps weeds down.
Community and policy:
- Find out your utility’s current drought stage and the rules that apply. Most utilities post this information online and let you report water waste, like irrigation during banned hours or broken sprinklers spraying onto pavement.
- If you’re in an HOA, know your rights. California’s AB 1572 and Texas Property Code §202.007 prohibit HOAs from fining residents for brown lawns during active water restrictions. Other states are following this example.
- Pay attention to how agriculture and industry use water in your area. While homes use only about 10% of water, decisions about the other 90%—used by farms and businesses—will shape whether household conservation efforts make a lasting difference.
The Big Climate Picture
Some may see the 2026 drought as just a mix of La Niña, a warm winter, and early snowmelt, with rain expected to return as conditions change and an El Niño watch begins for late summer. While this is partly true, the bigger pattern—record warmth, snow falling as rain, earlier and faster runoff, and reservoirs unable to keep up as demand rises during hotter, longer summers—is what climate science has predicted for nearly twenty years.
Lake Powell is at 23%. Oregon’s snowpack is gone. North Carolina is completely in drought. Corpus Christi is preparing for the chance of running out of water. These are not separate stories. They are all part of the same story, showing what aridification looks like when it becomes a daily reality instead of just a forecast.
Editor’s note: Drought conditions are evolving weekly. Statistics in this piece are current as of the U.S. Drought Monitor release dated April 21–23, 2026. Local water restrictions change frequently — verify with your utility before relying on the figures cited here.
The post The 2026 Drought, Region by Region appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/earth-watch/the-2026-drought-region-by-region/
Want to save time, money, and energy all while adding convenience to your life? Something as simple as using smart plugs throughout your home can help achieve these goals.
The average U.S. household has roughly 65 devices plugged in around the clock, quietly drawing about 770 kilowatt-hours of phantom power every year, about enough to run a refrigerator for nine months. At today’s average residential electricity rate of 17.47 cents per kilowatt-hour, that’s roughly $135 a year wasted on devices nobody uses.
Smart plugs are the simplest, cheapest way to stop electricity waste. The arrival of Matter, the cross-platform smart home standard backed by Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung, and the maturing of the low-power Thread wireless protocol mean a smart plug bought today should outlast the app it shipped with and work across whatever smart home ecosystem you switch to next. This updated article covers what changed, what to look for now, and which models are worth installing in 2026.
This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item through one of these links, we receive a small commission that helps fund our work.
How Smart Plugs Work
A smart plug sits between a wall outlet and whatever you plug into it — a lamp, a coffee maker, a space heater, an entertainment center. Inside is a relay that opens or closes the circuit on command, plus a wireless radio that listens for those commands from your phone or a smart speaker. Some plugs add an energy meter that reports real-time wattage and cumulative kilowatt-hours back to the app.
Older smart plugs relied entirely on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and the manufacturer’s cloud services, which meant a server outage or a Wi-Fi hiccup could leave you unable to turn off your lamp. Matter-certified plugs communicate locally over your home network and continue working even when the internet drops. Thread-based plugs go further, forming a self-healing mesh network in which each plugged-in device acts as a relay for the next, extending range and cutting response time, so there’s less waiting for your smart home app to make your smart home work.
In late 2022, the Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.0, an open, royalty-free standard meant to end the era of locked smart home ecosystems. Matter-certified plugs pair with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings simultaneously, and it is configured by scanning a single QR code. No brand-specific app required, no separate hub for each platform.
Matter has matured quickly. Version 1.4 added home energy management as a first-class device category and introduced certified routers and access points that double as Thread border routers. Version 1.5, published in November 2025, expanded support to cameras, soil moisture sensors, and additional energy management features. As of 2026, Thread border router certification requires Thread 1.4, which lets security credentials to be passed between platforms, so a plug added through Apple Home can also be controlled from a SmartThings hub.
A Matter plug bought in 2026 should still work in 2030, even if you switch from an Amazon Echo to a HomePod or add a SmartThings station. By contrast, a proprietary Wi-Fi plug from a brand that goes out of business or sunsets its app is a paperweight. That’s a real consideration in a category where startups have come and gone — Wink, Insteon, and others left users stranded when their cloud services shut down.
How Much Energy They Actually Save
Smart plugs save energy only when you use them deliberately. The plug itself draws roughly 1 to 2 watts of standby power, so each one adds about $1.50 a year to your bill before it does any work. That cost is recovered many times over if the plug is used to schedule, monitor, or kill standby loads.
Three smart plug features do most of the work:
1. Cutting Standby Loads
The U.S. Department of Energy and the Natural Resources Defense Council estimate that standby power — the electricity devices draw when they’re switched off but still plugged in — accounts for 5% to 10% of residential electricity use, and as much as 23% in homes packed with always-on electronics. The NRDC estimates the national wasted energy spending at about $19 billion a year, or roughly $165 to $440 per household. Older devices, gaming consoles, set-top boxes, and audio equipment are the worst offenders.
A smart plug with energy monitoring lets you spot which devices are draining power in standby and either schedule them off overnight or kill the circuit entirely. One reviewer found an old gaming console drawing 50 watts in standby mode, which costs is about $45 a year at average rates.
2. Scheduling and Off-Peak Shifting
Scheduling a coffee maker, towel warmer, or seasonal lights to run only when needed is the simplest savings case. The bigger one is shifting flexible loads — EV chargers, dehumidifiers, pool pumps — to off-peak hours when many utilities offer lower rates and the grid is running on cleaner sources. Earth911’s reporting on vampire loads walks through which household devices are worth targeting first.
3. Smart Plugs can Catch Failures Early
This is the underrated benefit. A refrigerator that suddenly draws 40% more power, a sump pump that’s cycling too often, or a freezer running 24/7 because the door seal failed will all show up in an energy-monitoring plug’s history before they show up on your utility bill. For appliances that fail gradually, the plug is a cheap diagnostic tool.
2026 Performance Standards: What to Look For
The smart plug market has consolidated around a handful of meaningful specifications. A plug bought in 2026 should meet most of these:
- UL or ETL safety certification. This is non-negotiable. Uncertified plugs from unknown brands have been linked to overheating and fires; in 2023 the CPSC announced a recall of Emporia smart plugs over electric shock hazards, and counterfeit electrical products remain a documented risk. Look for the printed UL or ETL mark on the device itself, not just the listing page.
- 15-amp / 1,800-watt rating. Standard for U.S. plugs and sufficient for nearly any single-outlet appliance. Be cautious about controlling space heaters with smart plugs, even at this rating; high-draw devices running for hours can stress the relay.
- Matter certification. Look for the Matter logo (three arrows forming a triangle) on the plug packaging.
- Real energy monitoring. Look for plugs that report actual wattage and cumulative kilowatt-hours, not estimated usage based on assumed device profiles. This is the feature that turns a smart plug into a savings tool rather than a convenience gadget.
- Local scheduling stored on the plug itself continues running when the internet drops. Cloud-only schedules don’t.
- Compact form factor. Older plugs were bulky enough to block the second outlet on a duplex receptacle. Slim designs from Kasa, TP-Link Tapo, and Eve now fit two per outlet.
- Thread support is optional but useful. Thread plugs use less power than Wi-Fi, respond faster, and strengthen your mesh as you add more. They require a Thread border router, which is built into most current Apple, Google, and Amazon hubs.
Recommended Models for 2026
These picks are organized by use case rather than ranked overall. Prices and availability checked April 2026; verify before purchase.
Best Cross-Platform Pick: Kasa KP125M
The Kasa KP125M was one of the first Matter-certified plugs with proper energy monitoring and remains the best balance of features in 2026. It works with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings via Matter to track real-time and historical wattage in the Kasa app. It stores schedules locally and is compact enough to stack two in a duplex outlet. UL-certified, 15A/1800W. Around $20 per plug in 2-packs and 4-packs. The Chinese manufacturer, TP-Link, has had its U.S. market presence scrutinized for security concerns — worth considering if that’s a priority for your household.
Best for Apple Home and Thread Mesh: Eve Energy
Eve Energy (Matter) runs over Matter and Thread, joining a Thread mesh automatically to act as a router for nearby devices. Eve’s privacy posture is unusual: no cloud, no account registration, no telemetry, so you can use it without fear of digital surveillance of your home. The energy monitoring is granular enough to capture small changes in appliance behavior, and the app provides detailed cost projections. UL-certified, 15A/1800W. Premium-priced at closer to $40 per plug, but the Thread support and privacy stance justify it for households committed to a local-first smart home.
Outdoor Use: Wyze Plug Outdoor
For holiday lights, pool pumps, garden features, and string lights, the Wyze Plug Outdoor offers two independently controlled, weather-sealed outlets with energy monitoring, a built-in light sensor, and IP64 water resistance. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant, operating from -4°F to 120°F. Typically priced between $25 and $30. Note that Wyze has had several security incidents over the past few years, which is worth weighing for indoor cameras, but matters less for an outdoor plug controlling lights.
Simplest Alexa-Only Setup: Amazon Smart Plug
If your household is already deep in the Alexa ecosystem and you want zero-configuration setup, the Amazon Smart Plug pairs automatically with Echo devices and works through the Alexa app, with no separate setup required. While it provides n o energy monitoring, this Alexa-only costs around $20. The simplest option, but the least flexible if you ever switch ecosystems.
The Bigger Picture
Smart plugs are a small intervention. Cutting standby load might save a household $50 to $200 a year — meaningful, but a fraction of the savings available from more efficient HVAC, water heating, and appliance choices, which together account for the majority of residential electricity use. The case for smart plugs is less about that one number and more about the visibility they provide. Most households have no idea which devices are responsible for their bills until they get the data.
The category also has a larger-grid story. Smart plugs that can shift flexible loads to off-peak hours give utilities and grid operators tools to balance demand without building more peaker plants, particularly relevant as electrification of heating and transportation drives residential demand growth. Check out our conversation with ecobee’s Sarah Colvin, which to go deeper into how distributed smart devices are starting to function as grid resources, not just consumer conveniences.
What You Can Do
- Audit before you buy. Walk through your home with a notepad and list devices that run on standby, such as entertainment systems, gaming consoles, printers, set-top boxes, microwaves with clocks, or anything with an LED that stays lit. Those are your first smart plug candidates.
- Start with one Matter plug with energy monitoring. Use it as a diagnostic tool for a week on each of your top suspects before installing a full set. The data will tell you which loads are worth automating.
- Build schedules around the loads you actually use. A coffee maker that runs from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., an entertainment system that powers down at midnight, and holiday lights on a sunset-to-11 p.m. window. Aim for the plug to spend most of its time off.
- Check for utility rebates. Many U.S. utilities offer rebates on energy-monitoring devices and smart home products that participate in demand-response programs. Your provider’s website or ENERGY STAR’s rebate finder is the place to start.
- Don’t put high-draw appliances on smart plugs. Space heaters, window AC units, and other devices that draw near the 15A rating for hours at a time stress the relay and pose a real fire risk. Use a hardwired smart switch or a smart breaker for those instead.
- Verify safety certification on the physical product. The UL or ETL mark should be printed on the plug itself. If it’s not, return it.
Editor’s Note: Originally written by Sandi Schwartz on March 29, 2023, this article was substantially updated in April 2026.
The post How To Save Energy in Your Home With Smart Plugs appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/eco-tech/how-to-save-energy-in-your-home-with-smart-plugs/
Today’s quote is from Yvon Chouinard, rock climber, environmentalist, and founder of outdoor gear retailer Patagonia. He said, “Going back to a simpler life based on living by sufficiency rather than excess is not a step backward.” Is it time to simplify your life?
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image.
This poster was originally published on June 26, 2020.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Living by Sufficiency Rather Than Excess appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-living-by-sufficiency-rather-than-excess/
Colorado Warns of Severe Fire Risk in Southwestern States. It May be Difficult to Share Resources.
A New Enbridge Pipeline Spurs Opposition in Central North Carolina
Faster Slaughterhouse Line Speeds Are Increasingly a Climate Problem
-
Greenhouse Gases9 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Climate Change9 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Greenhouse Gases2 years ago嘉宾来稿：满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Climate Change2 years ago
Bill Discounting Climate Change in Florida’s Energy Policy Awaits DeSantis’ Approval
-
Climate Change2 years ago嘉宾来稿：满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Renewable Energy7 months agoSending Progressive Philanthropist George Soros to Prison?
-
Carbon Footprint2 years agoUS SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rules Spur Renewed Interest in Carbon Credits
-
Greenhouse Gases10 months ago
嘉宾来稿：探究火山喷发如何影响气候预测