LANSING, Mich., April 22, 2026 — Today, state Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Twp.) introduced legislation to expand the list of rare and imperiled wetlands in Michigan to better protect vulnerable natural resources.

“Our special landscape and unique water features define pure Michigan and make this such a great state to live in and visit. These are fragile, critical ecosystems that sustain the life of plants and animals, including native pollinators that protect our local food supply and specialty crops grown in Michigan,” Brixie said, “This Earth Day, I want to celebrate these treasured natural resources by ensuring they will still be here for future generations to enjoy.”

Rare and imperiled wetlands are subject to stricter regulations, such as higher ratios of required mitigation, when land use on a wetland occurs.

“Wetland mitigation can’t replace the biodiversity in decades-old, rare, imperiled wetlands,” said Connie Boris, Executive Director of the Wayne County Conservation District. “Not only has the number of wetlands in the State been continuously declining due to development, but the number of rare, imperiled wetlands has been drastically reduced.”

Brixie’s bill, House Bill 5851, is based on a public land survey conducted by Michigan State University’s Natural Features Inventory that revealed additional types of wetlands now occur in fewer than 100 occurrences throughout the state and qualify as rare and imperiled. For example, once-prevalent wet-mesic flatwoods, a forested wetland, were recorded in only 8 occurrences throughout the state. 

“Habitat destruction is one of the most critical environmental issues of our time, contributing to the loss of whole ecosystems and all the living organisms that rely upon them, both plant and wildlife,” said Jeff Vornhagen, Director-at-Large of the Michigan Botanical Society. “We cannot afford to lose any more of this precious resource. We have a responsibility and obligation to preserve this world for future generations.” 

The legislation would consider the following types of wetlands as rare and imperiled:

  • Rich tamarack swamp
  • Floodplain forest
  • Rich conifer swamp
  • Hardwood-conifer swamp
  • Northern hardwood swamp
  • Southern hardwood swamp
  • Inundated shrub swamp
  • Intermittent wetland
  • Wet-mesic flatwoods
  • Wet-mesic sand prairie
  • Wooded dune and swale complex

“Wetlands have always been Michigan’s rich natural heritage. But we are in serious danger of permanently losing that heritage and losing endangered and threatened species that live in Michigan’s wetlands,” Boris added. “This is not the legacy we want to hand down to our children and grandchildren. We must preserve these remaining rare, imperiled wetlands and this legislation is a vital first step.”

“It’s no secret that reckless developments have decreased and destroyed much of Michigan’s wetlands. With recent flooding ravaging the state, their importance in protecting against and mitigating flooding cannot be overstated,” Brixie continued. “And just today — on Earth Day — Republicans in the Natural Resources and Tourism committee had testimony on a series of bills that could potentially endanger these vital habitats and natural spaces even further. That’s why we have to revisit this list and ensure these threatened wetlands are protected and aren’t pushed to extinction.”

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