Restoration of wetlands and wetland credit banking

The Mader family transitioned 41 acres of cropland to restored wetlands on the family farm near St. Bonifacius, establishing the only wetland credit bank in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. Learn about the frustrations, rewards, cost and revenue of their 9-year effort, which was recently found to now have more than 95% Minnesota native plants.

We will hear firsthand how the Mader family worked with consultant Wes Boll of Moore Engineering to restore the wetlands. We will also conduct vegetation transects to provide additional data on the status of the restoration.

Weather permitting, this session will take place primarily outdoors so please come prepared with long pants, a water bottle, waterproof or water repellant boots, and any desired field guides, including the iNaturalist app.