The deepwater swamp is habitat for endangered and threatened species, for example the American alligator and wood stork. The swamp is important in flood control because of their capacity to store water during and after heavy rains and storms.
Water quality is improved because a swamp will remove organic and inorganic nutrients and toxic materials from water it collects. These wetlands aid in necessary global cycles including the creation of nitrogen, sulfur, methane and carbon dioxide.

