<p>Non-connected wetlands (NCWs), defined by the absence of persistent surface water connections, are often overlooked in conservation strategies despite mounting evidence of their hydrologic importance. Here we compared the water stage dynamics of seventeen small wetlands in northern New York, classified by both surface connectivity (non-connected/connected) and restoration status (restored/natural). Hourly measurements of surface water and groundwater stages from October 2014 to September 2015 indicated that NCWs mirrored surface water-connected wetlands (CWs) in their seasonal hydrologic patterns. Both groups displayed similar responses to precipitation events and overlapping distributions of stage variability, although exfiltration duration was significantly longer in certain NCWs. Multivariate analyses including principal component analysis, k-means clustering, and partial least squares regression showed that elevation was the strongest static predictor of groundwater variability than either surface connectivity or restoration history. Digital elevation model-derived geomorphic indicators including depression area ratio and topographic wetness index did not systematically distinguish NCWs from CWs or restored wetlands from natural references. These findings call into question policies that primarily prioritize wetlands with evident surface water connections. By highlighting the observed functional similarity of NCWs and CWs for water storage, this study underscores the need to consider a broader range of hydrologic functions in wetland conservation. Adopting a more comprehensive framework that values observed wetland performance, regardless of overt surface connectivity, will better capture the ecological and water-resource benefits of wetlands across a broad connectivity gradient.</p>