Wetlands up 616% in North Dakota from last year

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – In comparison with final 12 months, the panorama in North Dakota is a complete lot greener, and a complete lot wetter.

After a document drought final 12 months and excessive precipitation this spring, the quantity of seasonal and non permanent wetlands in North Dakota is up 616% from final 12 months, which is the biggest single-year enhance on document.

“It’s only a wild swing in water, however the wetland index that we had this 12 months was our second highest, so whatever the share change being skewed by the truth that it was so dry final 12 months, it’s nonetheless a really moist spring and wetlands holding water on the panorama are very considerable,” stated Mike Szymanski, migratory sport fowl supervisor for the North Dakota Recreation and Fish Division.

Recreation and Fish’s annual spring breeding duck survey estimates there are about 3.4 million birds in North Dakota, which is up 16% from final 12 months and up 38% from the long-term common. Mike Szymanski says the rise in numbers might be extra intently related to extra wetlands, as a substitute of a broader-scale inhabitants pattern.

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