Sand County Foundation's Enhanced Wetland Shows Promise for Reducing Nitrogen Loads

Excess nitrogen in temperate watersheds has been associated with an array of environmental problems, including polluted wells and surface water. The hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico has created a particular focus on nitrogen loads in the Mississippi River Basin.

An article in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation presents an example of an enhanced wetland led by Sand County Foundation, and designed to reduce nitrogen loads from farmland flowing into the Wisconsin River. Preliminary results show this simple wetland enhancement on a field that was hard to farm results in measurable nitrogen load reduction. This type of project has potential for widespread adoption as a low-cost strategy to reduce nutrient inputs to the Mississippi River and other water bodies.