Scaling wetland-mediated nutrient reductions to large watersheds and river basins
Citation:
Golden, H. Scaling wetland-mediated nutrient reductions to large watersheds and river basins. Harmful Algal Blooms, Hypoxia, and Nutrients Research Webinar Series, (virtual), OH, May 22, 2024.
Impact/Purpose:
Limited information exists regarding the cumulative influence of wetlands outside of floodplains (i.e., non-floodplain wetlands, NFWs) on surface water quality at large river basin and watershed scales. We (1) assess the potential for NFWs to reduce nitrate within small subbasins of the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB) as well as at the river basin’s outlet, (2) explore what NFW and NFW catchment characteristics influence nitrate reductions at these spatial scales, and (3) quantify how far downstream NFW-mediated nitrate reductions are realized.
Description:
Wetland restoration and construction are important land management options for retaining nitrogen and phosphorus and thereby improving water quality at local scales (i.e., at nearby streams). However, limited information exists regarding the cumulative influence of wetlands outside of floodplains (i.e., non-floodplain wetlands, NFWs) on surface water quality at large river basin and watershed scales. We (1) assess the potential for NFWs to reduce nitrate within small subbasins of the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB) as well as at the river basin’s outlet, (2) explore what NFW and NFW catchment characteristics influence nitrate reductions at these spatial scales, and (3) quantify how far downstream NFW-mediated nitrate reductions are realized.