The primary feature of a wetland is.... it's wet! Many kinds of living organisms live their lives in and near water. Bacteria, protozoa, algae, reeds, lilies, amphibians, fish, dragonflies... A pond or a stream, even just a little seep oozing out of the ground provides life-giving water for many many organisms. The Wetlands on the CSUSM campus is over five acres, twice the size of the original area it replaced, and has been set aside for preservation.