Water quality condition monitoring - Wetland monitoring in the major watershed approach
Integrating wetland monitoring data into the major watershed framework being used to organize stream and lake monitoring efforts is still under development. The MPCA is beginning to explore a prioritization process where remote sensed indicators are used to rank potential wetland restoration and remediation options in a watershed based on an analysis of environmental stressors. Improving both the quantity and quality of wetlands within the watershed would improve the water quality of the wetlands themselves as well as the watershed in general. Effectiveness monitoring to evaluate restoration success would need to be an essential component of such a strategy both at the individual site scale as well as for the entire watershed. Currently, funding is being sought for the development and implementation of this component to the rotating watershed approach.
On a smaller scale, individual wetlands currently on the 303(d) list of Impaired Waters offer an opportunity to explore how wetland rehabilitation can be utilized to improve the quality of water bodies further downstream. The MPCA began listing wetlands in 2008. A total of three wetlands were included on the final 2008 list and efforts are underway to incorporate them into the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process for impaired waters further down in the watershed. For more details on these impaired wetlands and the rationale for listing wetlands on the Impaired Waters List see the following document:
Wetland Assessment Documentation (wq-iw12-05-08)
