Defining Wetland Condition Assessment Processes

The dramatic decrease in the quantity of wetlands in this country since pre-settlement has been well documented (Dahl 1990). Much less is known about trends in the quality of wetlands over this same period or, for that matter, the condition of wetlands that remain today. Minnesota still has extensive wetland resources, even though a large percentage of its historic wetlands has been lost (Anderson and Craig 1984). Given the significance of these remaining resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has developed a framework for assessing the condition of depressional wetlands throughout the state. It is anticipated that these procedures will ultimately become incorporated into a statewide monitoring and assessment program that will provide continual estimations of the status and trends of wetland quantity and quality in Minnesota.