According to the Ohio EPA, 90% of Ohio鈥檚 historic wetlands have been . New research from the University of Waterloo in Canada shows wetlands play a bigger role than we thought in protecting water from harmful fertilizer nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.
Wetlands have several roles 鈥搕hey provide wildlife habitat, they hold water and reduce flooding, and they help filter nutrients in water running off the landscape.
Research by University of Waterloo professor Nandita Basu鈥檚 says smaller wetlands are more effective at filtering water.
Basu says rather than focusing on just restoring large wetlands, 鈥渨e should protect a range of wetland function,鈥� said Basu. 鈥淪ome are more effective nutrient sinks. Other wetlands might be more effective flood protectors.鈥�
Basu says wetland restoration is usually focused on large wetlands because they鈥檙e perceived to be more important.
According to the report, smaller wetlands are more effective as 鈥渘utrient sinks鈥� because they have more soil that filters less water.
Incorporating data from all over the world, the report looked at 600 studies of wetlands, lakes, and reservoirs.
Basu鈥檚 research could affect wetlands conservation in the Great Lakes region where nutrient runoff is believed to be a cause of toxic algae blooms.
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