| Minnesota has lost a substantial amount of its original wetlands
over the years, mainly due to human development. These losses differ
in degree in various regions of the state. Although the Lake Superior
basin still has 94.4 percent of its presettlement wetlands, the
Red River basin has just 52.2 percent left, and the Mississippi
River basin only 37.3 percent. There are areas of the Mississippi
River sub-basins which have only 3.1 and 2.5 percent of their presettlement
wetlands left. Table 1.3 of the
wetland guide will better illustrate this idea
There are three broad systems of wetlands found in Minnesota.
Palustrine wetlands(P) are vegetated with trees, shrubs,
or persistent emergent vegetation and cover 10,343,000 acres (78.7
percent of the total state area). One-third of the state's wetlands
are forested. Lacustrine wetlands(L) are predominantly
open, including lakes, and amount to 2,699,000 acres (20.5 percent
of the total state area). Riverine wetlands(R), are the
areas between stream-banks, are major water conveyors. They occupy
94,000 acres (0.7 percent of the total state area). To learn more
about the different types of wetlands click on wetland
examples
To see the distribution of the wetlands in Minnesota, go to distribution
To learn and read more about the environmental benefits of wetlands, click on wetlands benefits
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