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Healthy wetlands and clean water support far more than fish and wildlife. They also help the bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and other pollinators that keep the ecosystem flourishing. Across the country, we at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are restoring wetlands, improving rivers and rebuilding habitat. From the coastal marshes of the Great Lakes to the cottonwood forests of the Colorado River Basin, projects designed to protect water are also creating healthier places for pollinators.
At first glance, water conservation and pollinator conservation might seem unrelated. One focuses on rivers, wetlands and water quality. The other focuses on flowering plants and the insects and other animals that pollinate them. In reality, they depend on each other. Healthy wetlands grow diverse native plants that feed pollinators, and pollinators help those plant communities reproduce and stay resilient.
Why water and pollinators are connected
Wetlands are among the most productive habitats on Earth. They filter pollutants, reduce flooding, recharge groundwater and support many native plants. These plants bloom throughout the growing season, giving pollinators food and homes when they need it most.
Research increasingly shows that wetlands are important habitat for native bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other pollinating insects. Restored wetlands often support more pollinator species than degraded areas especially where native flowering plants grow along wetland edges and adjacent uplands. These habitats benefit wildlife while also supporting agriculture by boosting wild pollination. Studies show protected aquatic lands can increase soybean yields by more than 5% when managed with pollinator habitat in mind.
Clean water matters too. When wetlands are drained or rivers are damaged, flowering plants disappear, leaving pollinators without food or nesting areas. Healthy wetlands with natural water fluctuations support a shifting mosaic of plants that that bloom at different times, helping a variety of pollinator species throughout the season.
Protecting water, in other words, means protecting the habitats pollinators depend on.
Conservation in action
Across our agency, programs that improve water quality are increasingly designed to deliver benefits far beyond the water’s edge.
Bringing conservation together
The Center for Pollinator Conservation brings together scientists, land managers and conservation partners to address pollinator declines. The center coordinates research, develops mapping tools and supports habitat planning, so pollinator needs are included in wetland restoration, floodplain management and river conservation. This work helps partners identify priority habitat, promote plants adapted to wet landscapes and design restoration projects that benefit both waterways and pollinators.
Restoring the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative shows how this shared approach works. Across the Great Lakes Basin, our staff and partners restore coastal wetlands, reconnect rivers and improve water quality. They are also rebuilding native meadows, marshes and dune systems, which provide habitat for pollinators.
As co-lead of the Great Lakes Pollinator Task Force, we work with federal, state and local partners to incorporate pollinator habitat and monitoring into water projects. Native flowering plants help stabilize shorelines, reduce erosion, improve habitat connectivity and provide nectar and pollen for native pollinators throughout the growing season. The result is healthier waterways and more resilient plant and wildlife communities
Along the Colorado River, every drop matters
Nowhere is the connection between water and pollinators clearer than along the Colorado River. Flowing through some the driest landscapes in North America, the river supports millions of people, tribal nations, farms, national wildlife refuges and countless species. Even in this arid landscape, ribbons of wetlands, cottonwood forests and flowering riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian habitat create oases for native pollinators.
Service biologists work with federal and state agencies, tribal nations, conservation organizations and local communities to restore these vital habitats. They remove invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , like Russian olive trees, that crowd out native vegetation, and plant diverse native wildflowers, shrubs and trees, that provide resources for pollinators and other wildlife species.
"Every time we work with a partner to restore a stretch of riparian habitat, we're creating benefits both above and below the waterline,” states Sarah Quadt, fish and wildlife biologist based at the Colorado Ecological Services Field Office.
Restoration is about more than making places look greener. The types of plants chosen determine whether native pollinators return. Biologists, like Quadt, collaborate with federal and state agencies to provide guidance to ensure partner-led projects incorporate appropriate conservation measures for pollinators. This often means recommending native plants that bloom across the growing season, helping land managers stabilize streambanks, improving wildlife habitat and strengthening ecosystems.
Partnerships extend beyond individual sites. In the Colorado River Basin, we collaborate with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and state agencies to improve our understanding of native bumble bees and other invertebrates. Through coordinated surveys and community science efforts like the Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas, thousands of new observations are helping scientists understand where species live, and what they need to survive.
What this means for conservation
Many questions remain. Researchers are studying how changes in water availability and invasive species impact wildlife across our nation. Filling these knowledge gaps will guide future restoration and help focus conservation resources where they are most effective.
When agencies, tribal nations, landowners and communities invest in healthier waterways, they also rebuild native plant communities that pollinators rely on for food and habitat. Clean, functioning wetlands reduce flooding, improve water quality and create diverse, resilient landscapes that support wildlife and people.
Because pollinators help maintain these plant communities, the benefits ripple far beyond conservation lands. Pollinators support agricultural lands. It is estimated that about one in every third bite of food you eat depends on pollinators. Investing in one strengthens the other. Conserving water and pollinators together ensure stronger habitats, more stable food supply and healthier communities now and into the future.
How you can help
Everyone can help protect water and pollinators.
- Plant native species that grow well in your region
- Support wetland and river habitat restoration projects in your community
- Reduce or avoid pesticide use when possible
- Share the message that healthy water and healthy pollinators are connected
Each restored wetland, improved stream and planted native flower builds healthier ecosystems. When we protect clean water, we also protect the pollinators that keep our landscapes productive and resilient for future generations.
