Statistics regarding wetland loss in the U.S. and North Carolina
Wetland losses resulting from conversion to agriculture and other land uses has generated considerable interest in wetland restoration. Approximately one million acres of prior converted wetlands are targeted for restoration through the USDA Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). The ability to establish appropriate hydrologic functions will inherently influence wetland restoration success.
This research involves an on-going field and modeling study to develop guidelines for restoring wetland hydrologic function to drained agricultural fields. Two field sites (10 ha and 18 ha) located in Beaufort and Craven Counties, North Carolina, were instrumented and monitored to evaluate the effectiveness of the restoration techniques used. Experimental treatments included two levels of water table management and two types of surface contouring to control runoff.
This research is being conducted by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service and North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service with technical assistance provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), with financial assistance provided by grants from the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Economics Service (CSREES) through the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Water Quality Section through the 319(h) Nonpoint Source Program. For additional information, contact:
Robert O. Evans
Associate Professor and Department Extension Leader
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7625
phone 919-515-6788, fax 919-515-6772
email: evans@eos.ncsu.edu
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