Waters beneath the boardwalk of Reed Creek Wetlands Park in Martinez have receded, leaving behind a brown, leafy crust.

"It almost looks like it's been burnt," said Augusta resident Jon Heyman, who works at a nearby veterinary clinic and often walks through the wetland, located behind the Zaxby's off Furys Ferry Road. "I guess it has been burnt by the sun."

Mr. Heyman said he last saw water in the wetland in June.

Officials say a lack of rain is taking its toll on many other wetlands areas.

Ellenton Bay at Savannah River Site, a wetland widely known for its biodiversity, is experiencing dry conditions.

"That's only happened four times in the last 40 years," said Dr. Whit Gibbons, a senior ecologist at Savannah River Ecology Lab and retired University of Georgia professor who has studied wetlands for more than four decades. "In that area there are thousands of black swamp snakes -- a rare little snake whose most abundant habitat happens to be Ellenton Bay. They will estivate until it gets wet again. A lot of animals do that. They get through a drought by burrowing down and just sitting there."

At Reed Creek, the county still conducts programs about plants, insects, bats and other wildlife, said Barry Smith, the county's director of Community and Leisure Services. The only topics not currently included concern fish and other water-based animals, Mr. Smith said.

Columbia County officials say they hope to start construction next month on a 1,080-foot boardwalk extension to get the public closer to wetlands areas and Reed Creek, Mr. Smith said.

And although the ground below the boardwalk at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park remains wet, other wetlands areas have dried up, said Ruth Mead, the senior education specialist with the Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy.

Experts say the plants that grow survive as dormant seeds -- often for years -- and many animals can burrow deeper to find enough moisture for survival.

"The nature of wetlands is that they don't always have to be wet," Ms. Mead said. "They just have to be wet long enough for wetland soils to develop and plants to grow there. Some wetlands will dry up tremendously before rains come back."

Dr. Gibbons says conditions might seem bad, but appearances sometime can be a little misleading.

"Seasonal wetlands can be dry more than half the time and yet be very productive," he said. "The most important thing is that they are capable of holding water at the most critical times. Salamanders and frogs, for example, breed in the winter. That's when it has to have water."

Many plants common to wetlands often develop a resistance to drought conditions, Ms. Mead said. Wetlands soils are anaerobic, meaning they lack oxygen. Some herbaceous plants develop hollow stems with cells that bring oxygen from the air into the soil. Bald cyprus trees, common to wetlands, are very drought resistant and buckeye trees will shed their leaves to preserve water, she said.

In terms of dryness, 2008 is a severe year -- but it's far from unique, Dr. Gibbons said.

"I guarantee you, when the big rains come, the native animals and plants will be back. Our perception is often how does drought affect people and domestic animals. That's very different from the native animals and plants that have lived here for thousands of years."