From: ECarney@kdhe.state.ks.us Sent: Friday, 06 September 2002 10:03 AM To: dbaker@UKANS.EDU Subject: Wetland Presentation Abstract Well, here is the abstract for the wetland survey talk for the symposium. I will try to send you a copy of the Corel slideshow as soon as I can next week so you can make sure it plays on your hardware. The Kansas Wetland Survey Edward Carney, Environmental Scientist Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Environmental Field Services 1000 SW Jackson Ave., Suite 430 Topeka, Kansas 66612 In the early 1990s, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) was involved in an interagency project called the Wetland and Riparian Areas Project (WRAP). Based on the publicly managed wetland areas identified during WRAP, the current project was undertaken via an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant. The three-fold goal of this current project was to (1) examine wetland trophic state and reference trophic condition, (2) examine wetland water quality in comparison to state water quality criteria, and (3) to estimate the level of wetland function for a suite of ecological and functional (i.e., wetland processes that contribute to the environmental infrastructure) categories. Out of the 32 wetland areas examined, all were surveyed for their attainment of environmental functions but only 17 had sufficient water depth during the summer to allow consistent collection of water quality samples for analysis and comparison to criteria. The majority (65%) of these wetlands were classed as hypereutrophic, in terms of planktonic algae. The wetlands with the worst (highest) trophic states and nutrient levels were also dominated by blue-green algae communities. As has been postulated in years past, and as a suite of metrics suggests, nitrogen is likely to be the primary limiting factor in Kansas wetlands, with phosphorus and hydrology being likely secondary factors. Contemporary reference conditions were estimated based on published EPA methodologies. Reference (least impacted) water quality for Kansas wetlands equates with moderately low nutrient levels (around 80 ppb total phosphorus and 865 ppb total nitrogen), algae levels at the low end of the eutrophic category (around 12 ppb chlorophyll-a), reasonably good water clarity, and general abundance of submersed and emersed macrophytes. Reference wetland quality would be supportive of virtually all beneficial uses recognized by Kansas law and water quality regulations (K.A.R. 28-16-28b et seq.). The majority of water quality criteria/goal/guideline exceedences were for aquatic life uses (55%), with 55% of total exceedences due to nutrient levels, trophic status, and secondary effects of eutrophication such as low dissolved oxygen, elevated pH, and dramatic diel changes in dissolved oxygen and water chemistry. The principal sources of wetland loss and impairment in Kansas are hydrologic loss due to both agriculture and urban activities, and sediment/nutrient pollution from these same two activities. Many Kansas wetlands either perform basic ecological functions in an adequate manner, or have the potential to do so. Many others have a great deal of room for improvement. The most disturbing aspect of the estimates for wetland functions involved nutrient/sediment/toxicant retention. The majority of the wetlands exhibited high existing or potential capacity for materials retention. Combined with a generally high potential for downstream production transport, this has obvious implications for downstream water quality in streams and lakes. The suggestion is that many of these wetlands act both as "sinks" for these pollutants, which will lead to their impairment, but also likely act as "transformers" of pollutants, which make them a likely source of additional downstream impacts. Despite the popular view that wetlands are pollutant "traps," many of these anticipated downstream impacts would not be positive for either the environment or human activities that depend on water quality. Protection of these water resources becomes an important need for their future and our enjoyment of their benefits.