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David Nicholas: Michigan ecological researchers say that swamps are starting to diminish throughout the state. And the findings are that it's primarily...man made.
To talk more about this, WCMU's Tina Sawyer reached out to Don Uzarski from Central Michigan University's biology department.
Uzarski also leads a multi-year, wetland-monitoring program through the Institute for Great Lakes Research.
Through their research, they have found significant changes in certain areas of the state.
Tina Sawyer: The biggest surprise is lately that some of your research, some of what your students have been doing... is finding that some of Michigan's swamplands are shrinking. Now, is that in all of the areas that you've tested, or is it just in certain areas?
Don Uzarski: No, it's widespread, but of course, the places that are more populated, it's happening much quicker. So, what we've seen, if you look at the different types of wetlands, the swamps, they're actually the driest type of wetlands and the easiest to develop. But the real problem is, even if we do wetland mitigation, we can't recreate them.
TS: Why are they shrinking?
DU: Well, they're not, they're not necessarily shrinking. They're just the easiest to develop. So, they get developed.
TS: I see.
DU: And even if Michigan EGLE says, okay, if you're going to develop that area or that wetland, then you have to create more wetlands somewhere else. But the problem is we have not been able to master that perfect hydrology to be able to recreate them.
TS: So, we can't recreate them exactly if the land is being developed and we're losing those swamplands. So, what can people do to protect them before they become developed?
DU: Well, that's the hard part. So, you basically have to get lawmakers to say these are important areas that serve different purposes than marshes or other types of wetlands and get them to protect them. And our lawmakers have weakened that protection of swamps in particular.
TS: Yeah, because like you were saying, it's like a filter for all of our water.
DU: It is, and even our surface water... if this filters while the water percolates into the sediment, that water and the sediment eventually become groundwater and the groundwater is actually flowing and it makes it to our Great Lakes and other water bodies that are surface water.
TS: So, Don, you hear a lot of talk about PFAS. Are they also found in the wetlands and swamps around the area?
DU: Unfortunately, they're found everywhere.
TS: Yeah. And that's a concern too.
DU: Yeah. It will take care of it to a point, but there's so much in the environment, we still have to worry about it.
TS: If we can't stop these swamplands from being developed, what can we expect if that should happen?
DU: We're going to see a very different ecosystem as a state and beyond. I mean, it costs money if we lose these systems. So, everything becomes more expensive to clean water. I think that the biggest thing is trying to protect them on your own property. They're great for recreation. They're great for wildlife. But my main concern is usually water quality. And protect them on your own land and vote!
DN: That was CMU Biology Professor Don Yazarski talking with WCMU's Tina Sawyer.
To find more updates on wetland research, go to The Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring website.
