Site Assessment and Monitoring of Constructed Wetlands in Montana
USGS helps assess and monitor Montana Department of Transportation constructed wetland sites
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) occasionally causes disturbance to wetlands during construction. To comply with Federal, State, and Tribal regulations, MDT creates replacement wetlands to compensate for wetland loss. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborates with MDT to assess potential wetland replacement sites and monitor water conditions at established replacement sites. This monitoring helps evaluate the success of replacement wetlands and informs future wetland management and riparian habitat maintenance.
USGS assessment and monitoring of replacement wetland sites
Wetlands are important for people and the environment. They can protect and improve water quality, provide habitat for fish and wildlife, reduce flood impacts, and help recharge groundwater. Because of their importance, Federal, State, and Tribal regulations have been put in place to protect wetlands and ensure they continue to function.
When MDT undertakes projects, they occasionally cause unavoidable disturbance to wetlands and other aquatic habitats. To offset these effects, MDT constructs replacement wetlands and attempts to place these wetlands within the same watershed as the damaged wetlands. This process is known as compensatory wetland mitigation.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborates with MDT to assess potential wetland sites and monitor the surface-water and groundwater conditions at replacement wetland sites. This long-term monitoring can help evaluate the success and sustainability of replacement wetlands, inform wetland management practices, and help managers to maintain healthy riparian and stream habitat.
In addition to site assessment and monitoring, USGS scientists provide support to MDT by:
- Assisting in the development of water budgets prior to wetland construction
- Providing information about probable water availability under a range of scenarios, such as floods or droughts
- Identifying possible pre- and post- construction water-quality concerns
- Monitoring wetland groundwater distribution and quantity pre- and post-construction
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Where are the USGS-monitored wetland mitigation sites?
USGS-monitored wetland mitigations sites are located throughout Montana. At these sites, USGS and MDT establish a series of groundwater and/or surface-water monitoring locations. Seasonal measurements can be taken at these locations to help predict water availability. These data are publicly available.
To access data for wetland mitigation sites, click on the desired location to see individual well locations. These data are furnished by USGS Water Data for the Nation.
Importance of wetland mitigation and monitoring
In the United States, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees wetland management through its Regulatory Program, which mandates a "no net loss" of wetlands. When development projects impact wetlands, the Regulatory Program requires the relocation or creation of new wetlands in suitable locations. Since 2001, MDT has constructed more than 57 wetland mitigation areas to reduce the effects of development and minimize loss of wetlands in Montana.
The cooperative project between the USGS and MDT has maintained monitoring at various wetland mitigation sites throughout Montana since 1994 (see map). These efforts are important for determining the success and sustainability of constructed wetlands. Long-term monitoring can also help scientists understand the way water moves through wetlands over time. Wetlands rely on consistent water inputs, including groundwater, precipitation, and surface water to maintain their viability. The movement of groundwater is especially important to understand because it stores infiltrated streamflow, snowmelt, and precipitation, then releases this water into nearby streams during the dry season (typically July through September in Montana). This process helps sustain base flows and reduce stream temperatures during hot summer months. While groundwater is important for wetlands, wetlands also contribute to groundwater retention. As such, USGS monitoring of constructed wetlands provides data that can inform long-term management strategies, helping to enhance riparian and stream habitat.
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) occasionally causes disturbance to wetlands during construction. To comply with Federal, State, and Tribal regulations, MDT creates replacement wetlands to compensate for wetland loss. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborates with MDT to assess potential wetland replacement sites and monitor water conditions at established replacement sites. This monitoring helps evaluate the success of replacement wetlands and informs future wetland management and riparian habitat maintenance.
USGS assessment and monitoring of replacement wetland sites
Wetlands are important for people and the environment. They can protect and improve water quality, provide habitat for fish and wildlife, reduce flood impacts, and help recharge groundwater. Because of their importance, Federal, State, and Tribal regulations have been put in place to protect wetlands and ensure they continue to function.
When MDT undertakes projects, they occasionally cause unavoidable disturbance to wetlands and other aquatic habitats. To offset these effects, MDT constructs replacement wetlands and attempts to place these wetlands within the same watershed as the damaged wetlands. This process is known as compensatory wetland mitigation.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborates with MDT to assess potential wetland sites and monitor the surface-water and groundwater conditions at replacement wetland sites. This long-term monitoring can help evaluate the success and sustainability of replacement wetlands, inform wetland management practices, and help managers to maintain healthy riparian and stream habitat.
In addition to site assessment and monitoring, USGS scientists provide support to MDT by:
- Assisting in the development of water budgets prior to wetland construction
- Providing information about probable water availability under a range of scenarios, such as floods or droughts
- Identifying possible pre- and post- construction water-quality concerns
- Monitoring wetland groundwater distribution and quantity pre- and post-construction
Title
Where are the USGS-monitored wetland mitigation sites?
USGS-monitored wetland mitigations sites are located throughout Montana. At these sites, USGS and MDT establish a series of groundwater and/or surface-water monitoring locations. Seasonal measurements can be taken at these locations to help predict water availability. These data are publicly available.
To access data for wetland mitigation sites, click on the desired location to see individual well locations. These data are furnished by USGS Water Data for the Nation.
Importance of wetland mitigation and monitoring
In the United States, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees wetland management through its Regulatory Program, which mandates a "no net loss" of wetlands. When development projects impact wetlands, the Regulatory Program requires the relocation or creation of new wetlands in suitable locations. Since 2001, MDT has constructed more than 57 wetland mitigation areas to reduce the effects of development and minimize loss of wetlands in Montana.
The cooperative project between the USGS and MDT has maintained monitoring at various wetland mitigation sites throughout Montana since 1994 (see map). These efforts are important for determining the success and sustainability of constructed wetlands. Long-term monitoring can also help scientists understand the way water moves through wetlands over time. Wetlands rely on consistent water inputs, including groundwater, precipitation, and surface water to maintain their viability. The movement of groundwater is especially important to understand because it stores infiltrated streamflow, snowmelt, and precipitation, then releases this water into nearby streams during the dry season (typically July through September in Montana). This process helps sustain base flows and reduce stream temperatures during hot summer months. While groundwater is important for wetlands, wetlands also contribute to groundwater retention. As such, USGS monitoring of constructed wetlands provides data that can inform long-term management strategies, helping to enhance riparian and stream habitat.