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<p>Wetland loss and hydrologic modification across the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) have fragmented bottomland hardwood forests (BLHF) and reshaped flood regimes that drive wetland biogeochemistry. To counter these ecosystem losses, the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Natural Resources Conservation Service has reestablished BLHF and wetlands in the MAV since 1990. However, the extent to which water quality varies across WREs spanning different restoration ages remains unclear. We evaluated seasonal water quality and hydrologic conditions at 28 WREs in Mississippi and Louisiana spanning 3–30 years since establishment from July 2023 through May 2024 (<i>n</i> = 263). We did not detect a uniform pattern across restoration age; however, analyte-specific trajectories were evident. We detected a 57% increase in nitrate–nitrite concentrations (0.53 to 0.83&#xa0;mg/L), a 21% decline in total phosphorus concentrations (0.82 to 0.53&#xa0;mg/L), a 6.9% decline in dissolved unreactive phosphorus concentrations (0.29 to 0.27&#xa0;mg/L), an 18.6% increase in total organic carbon concentrations (TOC; 16.3 to 23.7&#xa0;mg/L), and a 10.3% increase in dissolved organic carbon concentrations (DOC; 14.9 to 18.4&#xa0;mg/L). Increased nitrogen and carbon occurred at concentrations consistent with regional wetland trophic states, indicating natural maturation rather than eutrophication risk. Several physicochemical metrics exhibited weaker restoration signals and pronounced seasonal structure. Easements surrounded by non-agricultural lands exhibited lower TOC concentrations. Continuous water-level monitoring indicated substantial variability in flood frequency, depth, duration, and timing among easements. Overall, WREs exhibit regional water quality patterns consistent with nutrient retention and carbon accumulation across a restoration-age gradient.</p>

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Water Quality Variation in Wetland Reserve Easements in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月24日

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  • Avery J. Wissmueller,
  • Beth Baker,
  • Kara M. Hall,
  • Sandra B. Correa,
  • Mark Hill,
  • Michael Eggleton,
  • J. Brian Davis

摘要

Wetland loss and hydrologic modification across the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) have fragmented bottomland hardwood forests (BLHF) and reshaped flood regimes that drive wetland biogeochemistry. To counter these ecosystem losses, the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Natural Resources Conservation Service has reestablished BLHF and wetlands in the MAV since 1990. However, the extent to which water quality varies across WREs spanning different restoration ages remains unclear. We evaluated seasonal water quality and hydrologic conditions at 28 WREs in Mississippi and Louisiana spanning 3–30 years since establishment from July 2023 through May 2024 (n = 263). We did not detect a uniform pattern across restoration age; however, analyte-specific trajectories were evident. We detected a 57% increase in nitrate–nitrite concentrations (0.53 to 0.83 mg/L), a 21% decline in total phosphorus concentrations (0.82 to 0.53 mg/L), a 6.9% decline in dissolved unreactive phosphorus concentrations (0.29 to 0.27 mg/L), an 18.6% increase in total organic carbon concentrations (TOC; 16.3 to 23.7 mg/L), and a 10.3% increase in dissolved organic carbon concentrations (DOC; 14.9 to 18.4 mg/L). Increased nitrogen and carbon occurred at concentrations consistent with regional wetland trophic states, indicating natural maturation rather than eutrophication risk. Several physicochemical metrics exhibited weaker restoration signals and pronounced seasonal structure. Easements surrounded by non-agricultural lands exhibited lower TOC concentrations. Continuous water-level monitoring indicated substantial variability in flood frequency, depth, duration, and timing among easements. Overall, WREs exhibit regional water quality patterns consistent with nutrient retention and carbon accumulation across a restoration-age gradient.