Net change in wetland acres

Why Is This Important?

Minnesota Statutes, Sec. 103A.201 notes: “The legislature finds that the wetlands of Minnesota provide public value by conserving surface waters, maintaining and improving water quality, preserving wildlife habitat, providing recreational opportunities, reducing runoff, providing for floodwater retention, reducing stream sedimentation, contributing to improved subsurface moisture, helping moderate climatic change, and enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape, and are important to comprehensive water management, and that it is in the public interest to: 1) achieve no net loss in the quantity, quality, and biological diversity of Minnesota’s existing wetlands; 2) increase the quantity, quality, and biological diversity of Minnesota’s wetlands by restoring or enhancing diminished or drained wetlands.”

What Is DNR Doing?

Net wetland change in area from 2009 to 2014 by sample plot. Plots are symbolized according to the magnitude and direction of wetland change with larger triangles for larger changes. Plots with net wetland gains are symbolized with green triangles that points up, whereas plots with net losses are symbolized with red triangles that point down.   Image 1 of 1 (use left/right arrows to navigate previous/next)

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The DNR influences impacts to wetlands through the Public Waters and Water Appropriation Permit Programs and by providing technical information and onsite reviews for other regulatory programs. The DNR acquires and restores wetlands on state lands. Staff help develop regulations and policies affecting wetlands. 

The DNR, in cooperation with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, operates the only statistically-designed monitoring program to provide a comprehensive, statewide assessment of wetland quantity and quality trends. This program uses a cyclical sampling design to monitor nearly 5,000 random plots. The program was initiated in 2006 and a baseline report on the status of wetlands in Minnesota was published in 2010. Subsequent comparisons between three year sample cycles indicate that Minnesota had a small net gain of wetland acres. Despite nominally achieving the state's no net loss goal with respect to wetland quantity, there are important reasons to be concerned about the state of wetlands in Minnesota. First, much of the observed gains were unconsolidated bottom type wetlands (ponds) that typically have limited wildlife habitat value. Second, there are conversions between wetlands types, such as emergent wetlands converted to cultivated wetlands, that while not a loss of wetland area, undoubtedly represent a loss of wetland function.

All project reports can be found using the wetland monitoring strategy link below.

Target: Continue to monitor trends in wetland gains and losses to assess progress toward meeting Minnesota’s no net loss goal.

The DNR cannot achieve no net loss of wetlands on its own because most wetlands are not on land administered by the state. To promote the conservation of wetlands and achieve the goal of no net loss, the DNR has a three-point strategy. First, the DNR will provide scientifically sound, publicly available monitoring information on wetland gains and losses, which can be used to help shape wetland policy and management decisions. Second, the DNR will manage wetlands on DNR administered land according to an internal policy that is stricter than state or federal laws. Third, the DNR will work with other agencies, non-governmental organizations, and landowners to promote stewardship practices that help achieve the no net loss goal.