Human impacts to Minnesota wetlands

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5477370

Johnston, C A

Minnesota's 3.6 million ha of wetlands have been impacted by a variety of human activities, including agricultural drainage, urbanization, water control, and nonpoint source pollution. More than half of Minnesota's wetlands have been destroyed since the first European settlers arrived, an average loss of about 35,600 ha/yr. Drainage for agriculture is the major cause of wetland loss in Minnesota, particularly in southern Minnesota and the Red River Valley. In addition to impacting wetlands directly, wetland drainage affects downstream areas by increasing flood flows, and releasing sediment and nutrients. Urban development and highway construction affect a smaller proportion of Minnesota's wetlands, but substantially alter their physical, chemical, and biological properties. Hydrology has a major influence on the structure and function of wetlands, so changes in the frequency, duration, depth, and timing of wetland flooding can severely impact wetlands. While wetlands can assimilate low levels of sediment and nutrient enrichment, excessive inputs can be detrimental. Peat harvesting is not currently extensive in Minnesota, but could cause substantial impacts. Cumulative impact, the incremental impact of an action when added to other past, present, and reasonably forseeable future actions, is becoming an area of increasing concern.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (United States). Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5477370
• Report Number(s): PB-91-183160/XAB; EPA--600/J-89/519
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540350 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
AGRICULTURE
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FEDERAL REGION V
FORESTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROLOGY
INDUSTRY
LAND USE
LOSSES
MATTER
MINNESOTA
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC MATTER
PEAT
POLLUTION
USA
WATER POLLUTION
WETLANDS