EVALUATION OF CONSTRUCTED PONDS FOR REPLACEMENT OF WETLAND AFFECTED BY HIGHWAY PROJECTS. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Landfill extraction during expansion of I-29 in 1975 resulted in construction of 45 ha (109 a) of artificial wetlands in Pembina County, North Dakota. Similar wetlands were constructed in Barnes and Pierce Counties in 1976 and 1977, respectively. Eighteen of these artificial wetlands were studied in 1979 and 1980 to determine their use by waterfowl and marsh birds, and to investigate the types and abundance of aquatic plants and macroinvertebrates present. Water quality investigations and soil analysis of these wetlands were undertaken. Comparisons were made between data collected on artificial wetlands and nearby natural basin wetlands. In 1979, which was a year with plentiful precipitation, waterfowl breeding pair density was slightly lower on Pembina County artificial wetlands (1.9 pairs/ha) than on Lunby Lake (2.2 pairs/ha). Breeding pair density increased to 3.9 pairs/ha on Lunby Lake, but decreased to 0.9 pairs/ha on artificial wetlands in 1080, a drought year throughout the prairie region. Waterfowl pair density in both years was higher on Pierce County artificial wetlands than on natural basin wetlands. However, in 1980, density was lower on Pierce County artificial wetlands than on a natural basin wetland of comparable size. For Barnes County wetlands, breeding pair densities were similar for artificial and natural basin wetlands. Reasons for these differences are discussed and may relate to vegetation dispersion and density, macroinvertebrate abundance, water quality, and wetland basin topogoraphy. Borrow areas designed with maximum shoreline, gradually sloping sides, and variable bottom elevations can provide new wildlife habitat and enhance a highway construction area. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  University of North Dakota, Grand Forks

  Department of Biology
  Grand Forks, ND  United States  58202

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Rossiter, J A
  • Crawford, R D
• Publication Date: 1981-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 21 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Evaluation; Pits; Road construction; Vegetation; Water quality; Wetlands; Wildlife
• Uncontrolled Terms: Borrow pits; Replacing
• Old TRIS Terms: Constructed ponds; Precipitation
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00349164
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-ND-81-79, FCP 43E2-404
• Contract Numbers: 2-79(A)
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1982 12:00AM