2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
5/20/2019 | 3:00 PM - 3:15 PM | SEDIMENT REMOVAL IN RESTORED AGRICULTURAL WETLANDS IMPROVES WATER QUALITY | 150 G
SEDIMENT REMOVAL IN RESTORED AGRICULTURAL WETLANDS IMPROVES WATER QUALITY
Wetland restoration is a priority in the Prairie Pothole Region of the USA and Canada where historically most wetlands were drained for agriculture. Wetland restorations often include excavation to remove accumulated sediment, thus increasing water storage and exposing seed banks. We examined whether sediment excavation during restoration reduces soil and surface water nutrient content with analyses of 55 restored agricultural wetlands across west central Minnesota. Half of restored wetlands had hydrologic function restored by removing drainage tile and plugging drainage ditches (termed Business-As-Usual). For the other half, hydrology was restored and accumulated sediment was removed from the basin (Excavation treatment). Excavation significantly reduced soil and surface water nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Surface water dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus and soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations were lower at excavated compared to business-as-usual wetlands. Nitrate concentrations were consistently very low throughout the growing season and did not differ between treatments, suggesting that excavation does not influence the high capacity of restored wetlands to remove or assimilate inorganic nitrogen. Our results suggest that, while more costly, sediment excavation improves wetland restoration outcomes for water quality and promotes conditions for native species.
- Restoration
- Sediment
- Wetland
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Presenters/Authors
Sarah Winikoff
(), University of Minnesota, wini0019@umn.edu;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Jacques Finlay
(), University of Minnesota, jfinlay@umn.edu;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -