Barendregt, Aat, Cahoon, Donald R., Whigham, Dennis F., Perillo, Gerardo M. E., Baldwin, Andrew H., and Hopkinson, Charles S. 2019. "Tidal Freshwater Wetlands." In Coastal Wetlands. Perillo, Gerardo M. E., Wolanski, Eric, Cahoon, Donald R., and Hopkinson, Charles S., editors. 619–640. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-63893-9.00018-6.
Tidal freshwater wetlands link terrestrial and estuarine habitats. They occur in coastal systems around the world, primarily rivers, where the amount of freshwater flow from upstream watersheds is of sufficient volume to create a dynamic tidal zone in which there are tides but the water is almost completely fresh. Tidal freshwater wetlands are characterized by high biodiversity, high productivity, and high rates of decomposition. The animal community is characterized by species that occur in freshwater and estuarine and marine species that spend important life history stage in freshwater environments. Given their location near urban areas in coastal rivers, many tidal freshwater wetlands have been destroyed and the wetlands that remain are threatened by sea level rise, salt water intrusion, and invasive species. Effective conservation, restoration, and management of tidal freshwater wetlands will require vigilance and commitment by governmental and nongovernmental organizations.
