Wetlands Home

Wetland management is an important issue in North Dakota, because of their numbers and density. They are so extensive in the prairie pothole region that they play a critical role in the survival of a large majority of migratory waterfowl in the northern hemisphere. Wildlife habitat notwithstanding, wetlands also play a key role in local and regional hydrology. They serve as environmental buffers, because they catch and store runoff and whatever it transports. Wetlands may be categorized as recharge, discharge, and flowthrough with respect to groundwater flow. Each has a different function within the hydrologic cycle. Similarly wetlands have been categorized according to the length of time that open water exists in the basin. These different types of wetlands not only have different hydrologic functions, but also have different functions with respect to chemical attenuation. Managing wetlands requires knowledge of the variations of function that exists among the different categories.

Phosphorus status along a soil catena and its impact on wetland remediation Dr. Jimmie Richardson Soil Science, Minnesota
Wet soil monitoring; Dr. Jimmie Richardson Soil Science, Stutsman and Cavalier Counties, North Dakota, and Minnesota
Landuse factors used to estimate wetland condition Dr. Donald Kirby Animal and Range Sciences
Effects of fish on wetland ecosystem structure and function  Dr. Malcolm Butler Zoology
Biological assessment of prairie wetlands  Dr. Malcolm Butler Zoology
Biological restoration of a large, shallow, prairie lake Dr. Malcolm Butler Zoology, Minnesota
Ecology of northern forest wetlands in Minnesota  Dr. Malcolm Butler Zoology, Minnesota

Wetland function and management is included in programs of study coursework in Soil Science, Animal and Range Sciences, and Zoology.

Dr. Bruce Seelig, Water Quality Program Coordinator, Ag. & Bisosystems Engineering, NDSU Fargo

Dr. David Hopkins, Assistant Professor, Soil Science, NDSU Fargo

Dr. John Moraghan, Professor, Soil Science, NDSU Fargo