Implications of loss of prairie wetlands

Loss of prairie wetlands results in significant declines in biodiversity, increased drought and flooding risk, water quality degradation, reduced carbon storage, and diminished local climate regulation.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Key implications include:

• Biodiversity loss: Prairie wetlands are hotspots for wildlife, especially migratory birds, amphibians, and pollinators. Drainage and degradation rapidly reduce bird populations—dabbling duck abundances, for example, can decrease by half if just 20–40% of wetland area is lost. Pollinator habitat loss also impacts crop yields.^[2][4]
• Hydrological changes: Wetlands regulate stream flows and act as reservoirs for snowmelt and rain. Their removal increases runoff magnitude and frequency, leading to more frequent and severe downstream flooding. Loss of smaller wetlands makes the landscape especially vulnerable to droughts, while breaking connections for groundwater recharge threatens water supplies for communities and agriculture.^[3][4][6][2]
• Water quality deterioration: Wetlands naturally filter nutrients, trap sediments, and remove pollutants. Without them, nutrient export to downstream bodies rises, fueling algal blooms, fish kills, and impairments to drinking water treatment.^[4][5][1]
• Carbon cycle disruption: Wetlands act as major carbon sinks; draining them turns these areas into net carbon emitters, releasing stored carbon and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. In the past half-century, 43 million tonnes of carbon have been released by prairie wetland destruction, equivalent to the emissions of 1.5 million cars over 20 years in the region.^[5][3]
• Local climate destabilization: Wetlands moderate temperature and humidity, acting as "natural air conditioners." Their loss increases local heat stress on crops and reduces precipitation, exacerbating drought impacts and potentially impacting agricultural productivity.^[7][3]
• Socioeconomic costs: Increased flooding, drought risks, and water quality challenges lead to higher insurance payouts, reduced recreational opportunities, and compromised livestock/crop production.^[1][4]

The tradeoff between short-term agricultural expansion and long-term ecosystem service loss remains stark. Restoration and conservation are increasingly seen as crucial to maintaining water resources, climate stability, and biodiversity across the western prairies.^[6][2][4][5]

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• https://wetlandsalberta.ca/wetland-loss/   
• https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0207    
• https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-prairies-world-wetland-day/    
• https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-canadian-prairie-wetlands/      
• https://www.pcap-sk.org/rsu_docs/documents/Impact_of_Wetlands.pdf    
• https://www.bridgetolandwatersky.ca/maybe-it-isnt-just-the-wetland-birds-who-should-be-alarmed   
• https://wetland-report.abmi.ca/atlas-home/3.0-Wetland-Impacts/3.3-Agriculture-Climate-Change-Effects.html