The Need to Protect our Valuable Wetland Resources from Fragmentation Itasca County, MN By Michael R. Kreutzer University of Saint Thomas Geography Department

Background  Forest Legacy Program: Protects Forests Protects Forests Uses Federal & Local Funds Uses Federal & Local Funds Conservation Easements Conservation Easements Landowner Continues Ownership Landowner Continues Ownership Can Continue to Use Forest Amenities Can Continue to Use Forest Amenities Timber managementTimber management RecreationRecreation HuntingHunting Etc.Etc. Photo and Commentary Courtesy Of Minnesota Division of Natural Resources

Forest Legacy Cont.  FLEET Forest Legacy Ecological Evaluation Tool Forest Legacy Ecological Evaluation Tool GIS processes used to develop projectGIS processes used to develop project Based on DNR research for Forest Legacy Project.Based on DNR research for Forest Legacy Project.

Why So Important?  Fragmentation: The process by which large areas of land are divided and isolated creating broken habitats and loss of biodiversity. The process by which large areas of land are divided and isolated creating broken habitats and loss of biodiversity. Photo Courtesy of

Fragmentation Cont.  Some Important Notes on Fragmentation Fragmentation Occurs Naturally Fragmentation Occurs Naturally GeologyGeology FireFire Disease (Drought, Insects)Disease (Drought, Insects) Etc.Etc. Some Species Do Benefit from Fragmentation Some Species Do Benefit from Fragmentation Edging EffectEdging Effect Photo Showing Edging Along Wildfire. Courtesy of

Main Concerns About Fragmentation  Human Influenced Fragmentation is Threatening Our Valuable Environments  Natural Processes are Being Disrupted  We Do Not Fully Understand the Implications of Our Impact  What We Do Understand is Mostly Negative Photo Showing the Effects of Clear Cutting a Forest For the Construction Of a Highway in Canada Courtesy of Friends of the Rouge Watershed:

Purpose of The Project  How does fragmentation affect valuable water resources? Simple Answers: Simple Answers: Fragmentation often leads to the mass reduction of or clear cutting of trees and forestFragmentation often leads to the mass reduction of or clear cutting of trees and forest Soil erosion, sedimentation, loss of biodiversity occursSoil erosion, sedimentation, loss of biodiversity occurs Fragmentation often introduces development, resulting in pollution and unhealthy runoffFragmentation often introduces development, resulting in pollution and unhealthy runoff Can lead to severe economic consequencesCan lead to severe economic consequences

So Why is the Water Issue So Important?  Lakes, Rivers, Streams  Wetlands 1) Water Storage Act as sponges, storing and slowly releasing waterAct as sponges, storing and slowly releasing water Slows water movement, reducing flood potential and erosive propertiesSlows water movement, reducing flood potential and erosive properties Helps manage flow properties; especially during heavy wet or dry periods.Helps manage flow properties; especially during heavy wet or dry periods. Economic Impact: Reduces costs of water treatment and potential flood damageEconomic Impact: Reduces costs of water treatment and potential flood damage

Wetlands Cont.  Wetlands 2) Water Filtration Slows water downSlows water down Allows for particles to settleAllows for particles to settle Plants capture and filter sedimentPlants capture and filter sediment Pollutants such as fertilizers and sewage are absorbed by plant roots and soilsPollutants such as fertilizers and sewage are absorbed by plant roots and soils Photo Courtesy of

Wetlands Cont.  Wetlands 3) Biodiversity 43% of threatened or endangered species in U.S. rely on wetlands.43% of threatened or endangered species in U.S. rely on wetlands. Home to millions of species of aquatic plants, insects, fish, foul, and other wildlife.Home to millions of species of aquatic plants, insects, fish, foul, and other wildlife. Photo Courtesy of Mark Sharp:

Wetlands Cont.  Wetlands 4) Recreation Wetlands provide a great place toWetlands provide a great place to Hunt Hunt Fish Fish Canoe Canoe Explore our natural world Explore our natural world Educate Educate Photo showing a class being taught at a wetlands site. Courtesy of depts.washington.edu/wpa/youthfami.htm

Wetlands Cont.  Something to Consider Wetlands present in 1850: 18.6 million acres Wetlands present in 1850: 18.6 million acres Wetlands present in 2003: 9.3 million acres Wetlands present in 2003: 9.3 million acres  EPA DID YOU KNOW? In 1991 wetland-related ecotourism activities such as hunting, fishing, bird-watching, and photography added approximately $59 billion to the national economy. In 1991 wetland-related ecotourism activities such as hunting, fishing, bird-watching, and photography added approximately $59 billion to the national economy. According to the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, almost $79 billion per year is generated from wetland-dependent species, or about 71 percent of the nation’s entire $111 billion commercial and recreational fishing industry in According to the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, almost $79 billion per year is generated from wetland-dependent species, or about 71 percent of the nation’s entire $111 billion commercial and recreational fishing industry in An acre of wetland can store 1–1.5 million gallons of floodwater. An acre of wetland can store 1–1.5 million gallons of floodwater. Up to one-half of North American bird species nest or feed in wetlands. Up to one-half of North American bird species nest or feed in wetlands. Although wetlands keep only about 5 percent of the land surface in the conterminous United States, they are home to 31 percent of our plant species. Although wetlands keep only about 5 percent of the land surface in the conterminous United States, they are home to 31 percent of our plant species.

Research Question  How Do We Find Areas of Pristine Water Resources In Itasca County and Protect Them from Fragmentation?

Methodology  Used Fleet Model and Information from Minnesota Division of Natural Resources (DNR)  Created 2 Initial Continuums Human Impact Human Impact Environmental Quality Environmental Quality

Human Impact Continuum  Variables Distance From Development Roads Major Roads Recently Logged Areas Public Access to Water  Single Output Map Algebra  Results: Areas of Brown = Heavy Human Impact Areas of Green = Mild Human Impact

Environmental Quality Continuum  Variables Proximity to Wetlands Streams Lakes Trout Streams  Single Output Map Algebra  Results: Blue = Lakes/Streams Green = High Environmental Quality Brown = Low Environmental Quality

Habitat Continuum  Human Impact Continuum + Environmental Quality Continuum = Habitat Continuum  Habitat Continuum X (Habitat and In Holding + Fragmentation Parcels) = Habitat, In holdings, and Fragmentation  Results: Effects of Fragmentation

Final Step  Isolated Habitat, In holdings, and Fragmentation Map to be Within Itasca County Floodplains  Why Floodplains? Great example of a mix between environmental and economic concerns Great example of a mix between environmental and economic concerns Realistically, we must select feasible amounts of land to be changes. If we only have enough money for one acre, this provides a view as to how and where it should be spent. Realistically, we must select feasible amounts of land to be changes. If we only have enough money for one acre, this provides a view as to how and where it should be spent.

Final Map/Conclusion

Model

Discussion  For any Questions, Comments, Concerns or if you would like information on nay further research please feel free to contact me by at  Thank You!

Informational Sources  _val.pdf _val.pdf _val.pdf  ml ml ml  etland_monitoring.pdf etland_monitoring.pdf etland_monitoring.pdf