Wetlands are areas that serve as a transition between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Wetlands can either be sources or sinks for nutrients, acting as an access point or absorbing nutrients before they enter the lake depending on timing.  Wetland areas can act as buffers, and are extremely important in keeping unwanted nutrients out of lakes and streams.
	In 1965, the wetlands made up 7.2% of the land area in the watershed.  In 2003, the wetlands covered 9.5% of the land area. Flooding, which occurred when the dams were put in, may be the reason for the increase in wetland area.  This increase in total wetland area may be beneficial for the water quality in China Lake, because there is more land buffering nutrients from entering into the water through runoff, which helps decrease the occurrence of algal blooms.  On the other hand, some groups argue that the rise in water level may be the cause of the algal blooms