SW MN Wetland Enhancements

The wetlands on Mason and Storden WPAs will be restored by activities such as repairing the water control structure, breaking tile, and building dikes. This will give USFWS area managers the ability to enhance these wetlands by manipulation of the water levels. This will allow for the establishment of a somewhat hemi-marsh stage or a more diverse emergent vegetation. By breaking tile, building structures and removing sediment, we are turning these wetland acres back into a usable and restored state. This area of Minnesota is predominantly an agricultural landscape and has seen an unprecedented rate of drain tile installation which has drained seasonal depressions and in some cases what use to be permanent wetlands. Enhancement and restoration projects directly on wetland acres in this geography are a very high priority.