The authors assessed if wetlands can contribute to flood damage reduction in the Red River Basin, Minnesota, by providing reliable flood water storage. Hydrology and biodiversity in 28 natural and restored wetlands su...The authors assessed if wetlands can contribute to flood damage reduction in the Red River Basin, Minnesota, by providing reliable flood water storage. Hydrology and biodiversity in 28 natural and restored wetlands suggested uncontrolled natural wetlands provided the highest mean annual flood storage at 15 cm of runoff while single and 2-stage outlet controlled wetlands provided 3.0 and 8.1 cm of runoff control. Natural controlled wetlands, followed by 2-stage and single stage outlet controlled restorations provided 10.2, 6.6, and 2.2 cm of storage for early summer storm events. Two years of recorded water levels and a 20-year continuous meteorological record were used to model ＂temporary water level increases＂ in each wetland. Species diversity, hydrology, and watershed land use variables are inversely related where high quality and diverse wetlands had the lowest amplitude and frequency of water level increases, while low quality wetlands had the highest. Uncontrolled natural wetlands had the highest biological diversity and the lowest frequency and magnitude of temporary water levels increased. A significant biodiversity declines were measured where water level increases were greater than 2.7 meters. Strong multi-linear relationships between watershed land uses and watershed/wetland ratio explained wetland hydraulic performance and biodiversity relations （r2 ranging from 0.6-0.8）. Non-native wetland plant diversity increased with greater water level dynamics.展开更多
文摘The authors assessed if wetlands can contribute to flood damage reduction in the Red River Basin, Minnesota, by providing reliable flood water storage. Hydrology and biodiversity in 28 natural and restored wetlands suggested uncontrolled natural wetlands provided the highest mean annual flood storage at 15 cm of runoff while single and 2-stage outlet controlled wetlands provided 3.0 and 8.1 cm of runoff control. Natural controlled wetlands, followed by 2-stage and single stage outlet controlled restorations provided 10.2, 6.6, and 2.2 cm of storage for early summer storm events. Two years of recorded water levels and a 20-year continuous meteorological record were used to model ＂temporary water level increases＂ in each wetland. Species diversity, hydrology, and watershed land use variables are inversely related where high quality and diverse wetlands had the lowest amplitude and frequency of water level increases, while low quality wetlands had the highest. Uncontrolled natural wetlands had the highest biological diversity and the lowest frequency and magnitude of temporary water levels increased. A significant biodiversity declines were measured where water level increases were greater than 2.7 meters. Strong multi-linear relationships between watershed land uses and watershed/wetland ratio explained wetland hydraulic performance and biodiversity relations （r2 ranging from 0.6-0.8）. Non-native wetland plant diversity increased with greater water level dynamics.
