Protect and Enhance the Nation’s Natural Resource Base and Environment

Going Back To Basics: Preserving The Great Basin’s Wetlands

Issue (Who cares and why?)
      With the launch of “no net losses” of wetlands, put forward in 1989, wetland construction, conservation and restoration have become a growing issue across the US. Here in the Great Basin not only are these issues of concern, but preservation also plays an important role in a region that received on average less than nine inches of rain per year.
      With the donation of 1360 acre of marginal wetlands in 1993, the University assumed the role of caretaker for the J. Dow Wetlands Research Facility. This facility maintains twelve artificial lakes that are used for research along with providing habitat for thousands of animals. Unfortunately, the lakes are not water tight and electric pumps are required to maintain water levels. A costly operation to sustain over the long haul.

What has been done?
      By taking a page straight out of Central America’s history books, the J. Dow Wetlands research team utilized local cattle for what they do best, tromping around. Once the wetland had gone almost completely dry, straw was brought in and spread across the wetland basin. Cattle were then turned out onto the wetlands and driven back and forth until the straw and mud were thoroughly mixed. This procedure was then repeated and then left to dry, essentially creating an adobe style catch basin.

Impact
      With the “no net loss” mandate strongly motivating interested parties to resolve the J. Dow Wetlands retention problem, exploiting basic building techniques has proven to be both a salvation for the ecosystem and an inexpensive approach to wetland restoration. When comparing the original bottom against straw fortified basins the J. Dow Wetlands now holds water with 40% greater efficiency. This in turn reduced pumping cost through drought periods by over $1,000. And weighed against the alternatives (i.e., plastic sheets or sprayed in pond liners) the wetlands saved over $100,000 in restoration costs.

Contact
Carl Lee
Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station/222
University of Nevada
Reno, Nevada 89557
c-blee@psln.com