Wetland Creation
Wetland Creation
What is wetland creation? It is a newly created wetland on a site which historically wasnot a natural wetland. Ideally, a successfully created wetland will mimic functions of ahealthy, natural wetland.
Where the practice applies: This practice applies to landscapes where no natural wetlandsoccurred and where hydrologic conditions can be approximated by modifying drainage and/or artificially flooding the site.
How it helps the land and wildlife: Created wetlands help improve the health of America’swatersheds. Fifty percent of North Dakota’s original wetlands have been lost. The quality of our water will continue to be threatened unless we reverse the tide of wetland loss. Many wetlands remaining today continue to be degraded and wetland creations can help offset this loss.
Wetland functions include water quality improvement, erosion control, water storage, ground water recharge, fish and wildlife habitat, aesthetics, and biological productivity. Wetlands help remove excess carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere (a growing global concern), and research on carbon sequestration shows they provide the best method of removing carbon because of the lush vegetation.
Wetlands provide beneficial habitat to many wildlife species, not only waterfowl. Wetlands and associated riparian areas are critical habitat for most resident wildlife in North Dakota during the harsh winters of the northern plains.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.