1. History
1.1. 12,000 years ago glaciers covering Michigan Melted, creating water sources in the lowlands and basins which held them.
1.2. As the melting concluded and water levels stabled, forests returned to dry land.
1.3. as forests regrew smaller kettle lakes filled with plant debris and wildlife becoming bogs,
1.4. over the years, draining wetlands for development was the main cause of wetland loss
2. Introduction
2.1. Waterfowl and Wetland hold a mutual relationship in which waterfowl get food and shelter and waterfowl control vegetation.
3. What are the threats to the wetlands?
3.1. Open water and glacial lakes gets slowly eliminated as plant waste flows in creating bog habitats as well as human intervention by draining and filling for industrial development however regulations have been places to regulate this damage such as..
3.1.1. Part 303 and 451 state that requires preservation and proper management of wetlands, enforced by the DEQ
3.1.2. Section 10 of the 1899 rivers and harbors act restricts the construction in,over and under navigable water
4. Major Wetland Types
4.1. Marshes
4.1.1. Filled with inches to feet of standing water populated by a combination of dry and submerged plants and trees and animals like waterfowl, beavers, and muskrat.
4.2. Swamps
4.2.1. Contain more woodland-like plants like red and silver maple as well as cedar giving areas like this descriptions such as "flooded woodland," also housing similarly wooded creatures like frogs or owls
4.3. Bogs
4.3.1. formed by plant waste form mats and eventually fill in places like kettle lakes and ponds, housing acid tolerant plants correlated to the acidic, oxygen deprived soil from the blanketed soil. holding animals like the spotted turtles and bog lemmings.
5. Why are wetlands important?
5.1. Because wetlands form at the points where water meets land they are important for managing the water quality some ways they do this are...
5.1.1. Wetlands absorb runoff from rain and snow controlling how much runs into rivers and lakes, controlling floods
5.1.2. Wetlands can absorb pollutants from runoff like fertilizers, pesticides, and sediments, controlling water quality in nearby bodies of water.
5.1.3. Wetland produce resources necessary for life like oxygen and groundwater for underground aquifers, as well as trapping nutrients, enriching adjacent bodies of water.
5.1.4. Provide economic value and recreation for human economy by producing plants and waterfowl and habitats for fish breeding.
6. Annual Cycles and Seasonal Needs of Waterfowl
6.1. Waterfowl go through annual cycles that require wetlands as a habitat for breeding, laying, and hatching of waterfowl offspring as well as providing food to fuel the spring, summer, fall, and winter migrations. Specifically..
6.1.1. Wood Ducks arrive in Michigan from southern winters to wooded, ideal 8 inch deep streams and rivers of 8 to feed heavily on acorns and aquatic seeds to gain the fats and nutrition required for laying eggs. While the female feed the male searches for suitable nesting cavities for laying.
6.1.2. Blue Winged Teal migrate from the south into preferably shallow, temporarily flooded wetlands, the female nests in upland grasses and lays an average of 12 eggs per clutch and takes an average of 28 days to hatch
6.1.3. Mallards form breeding pairs during fall in wintering grounds before heading north to the females breeding site to feed on aquatic invertebrates for the egg laying process
7. Management Considerations
7.1. Wetlands owned by government or commercial businesses have regulations to protect the wetlands, however despite these the average land owner has these things to consider when taking care of these areas
7.1.1. Restore drained, polluted or otherwise damaged wetland basins
7.1.2. Protect and maintain existing wetland habitats, do this by planting grass as an at least 100 foot buffer from any source of pollution as well as a nesting area for local waterfowl
7.1.3. only mow and maintain buffer between July 15 and August 30 so to not disturb waterfowl nesting
7.1.4. Manage trees found in or along pathways to the wetland, these provide potential nesting sites for waterfowl
7.1.5. In a marsh, maintain a 50 50 split between open water and vegetation to maintain balance for local wildlife
7.1.6. avoid using chemicals in or around the wetland as not to kill more fragile species used as food in the wetlands