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Wetland types |
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Prairie potholes |
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Conservation |
page 6 of 7 |
Historically, potholes have been drained as a result of
increasing agricultural and residential development. Pothole
basins have been ditched and channeled into rivers and
streams and the proportion of water cycled directly into the
atmosphere through evapotranspiration has decreased,
increasing peak flows and effective discharge in prairie
streams leading to in-stream and stream bank erosion. Nearly
half of the potholes in the Midwest have been drained.
Because of their significance to waterfowl, numerous state,
federal, and private programs are in lace to protect prairie
potholes. Visit the
Ducks Unlimited prairie pothole site or the
Pothole Joint
Venture. |
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