Wetland restoration effectiveness tool

A tool to estimate the nutrient removal and carbon storage benefits of wetlands to prioritize conservation and restoration in the upper Midwest.

This wetland-scale planning tool uses publicly available data on water quality, soil properties, and wetland-watershed relationships to estimate nitrogen removal, phosphorus removal, and carbon sequestration to maximize the benefits of wetland conservation and restoration.

Background and tool development

Wetland ecosystems are an integral part of many Midwestern watersheds and provide benefits including water storage, carbon sequestration, nutrient removal, and wildlife habitat. Efforts to protect and restores wetlands may not account for the varying functions of wetlands, though some wetlands remove nutrients less efficiently or even are periodic source of dissolved phosphorus. This tool was developed as a simple method to predict nutrient removal effectiveness of wetlands, using relationships between nitrate-nitrogen removal and hydraulic loading rate that indicate greater nitrogen removal where watershed inputs are smaller relative to wetland area (Crumpton et al. 2006). The tool estimate particulate phosphorus removal by wetlands using sediment settling equations (HEI 2016). Soil survey data is used to estimate carbon stored in wetlands soils, to understand the benefit of reducing or reversing carbon loss through restored hydrology.

Wetland Restoration Toolbar (6.15.21).xlsx

Wetland Toolbox technical memo

Using the toolbox:

Users input data (e.g., watershed area, nutrient loads) in the spreadsheet. Literature values are used to estimate nutrient removal and storage for a specified area. Field data, local knowledge, or other sources of input values can improve tool outputs. Hydraulic Loading Rate is the ratio of annual watershed water volume to wetland area (m/year).

Contact: Dr. Chris Lenhart

References
Ahlering, M., Blann, K., Cornett, M., Graber, S., Lenhart, C., & White, M. (2021) Nature and Climate: Solutions for Minnesota. TNC. Bender, L and Lenhart, C. 2020. Wetland Restoration Effectiveness Tool: Technical Memo. Unpublished TNC project report. Crumpton, W.G., Stenback, G.A., Fisher, S.W., Stenback, J.Z. and Green, D.I., 2020. Water quality performance of wetlands receiving nonpoint‐source nitrogen loads: Nitrate and total nitrogen removal efficiency and controlling factors. Journal of Environmental Quality.
Houston Engineering (HEI). 2016. PTMAPP: Theory and Development Documentation. HEI No. 6059-051. Lenhart, C., Titov, M., Ulrich, J., Nieber, J., and Suppes, B. (2013). The Role of Hydrologic Alteration and Riparian Vegetation Dynamics in Channel
Evolution along the Lower Minnesota River. Transactions of the ASABE. 56. 549-561. 10.13031/2013.42686. Steinman, A. and Ogdahl, M. 2011. Does converting agricultural fields to wetlands retain or release P? J. of the N. Amer. Benth. Society 30(3):820-830.

Dept. of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
612-625-5200
[email protected]

BBE North (Kaufert Laboratory)
2004 Folwell Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108

BBE South (Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Building)
1390 Eckles Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108

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