This report, authored by Thomas E. Dahl of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory, provides a comprehensive assessment of wetland losses in the United States from the 1780s to the 1980s. The study is the first of two reports to Congress on the status of wetland resources, focusing on historical losses over a 200-year period. It compiles data from various sources to document the decline in wetland acreage, with the lower 48 states losing an estimated 53% of their original wetlands. Alaska has lost less than 1%, while Hawaii has lost 12%. California has lost the highest percentage of its original wetlands (91%), and Florida has lost the most acres (9.3 million). The report highlights the urgent need for conservation and restoration efforts, as wetlands play crucial roles in providing habitats, maintaining water quality, and protecting against erosion and flooding. The data presented in the report is intended to inform policy and management decisions to balance economic, social, and environmental goals.This report, authored by Thomas E. Dahl of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory, provides a comprehensive assessment of wetland losses in the United States from the 1780s to the 1980s. The study is the first of two reports to Congress on the status of wetland resources, focusing on historical losses over a 200-year period. It compiles data from various sources to document the decline in wetland acreage, with the lower 48 states losing an estimated 53% of their original wetlands. Alaska has lost less than 1%, while Hawaii has lost 12%. California has lost the highest percentage of its original wetlands (91%), and Florida has lost the most acres (9.3 million). The report highlights the urgent need for conservation and restoration efforts, as wetlands play crucial roles in providing habitats, maintaining water quality, and protecting against erosion and flooding. The data presented in the report is intended to inform policy and management decisions to balance economic, social, and environmental goals.