Ohio Has Invested Millions in Wetlands to Catch Nutrient Runoff From Farms. A New Report Suggests It’s Working. – Inside Climate News

Report on the Efficacy of Purpose-Built Wetlands in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Program Overview

A recent report from the H2Ohio Wetland Monitoring Program details the success of purpose-built wetlands in Ohio in mitigating agricultural nutrient runoff. This initiative directly addresses several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning water quality, ecosystem health, and climate action. The program, launched in 2019, monitors 10 restored wetlands to establish best practices and validate their role in environmental management. This effort represents a significant multi-stakeholder partnership, aligning with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by involving university researchers, state agencies, and local land managers.

Key Findings on Wetland Performance and Design

Nutrient Retention and Water Quality Improvement (SDG 6 & SDG 14)

The primary function of the wetlands is to improve water quality by capturing phosphorus and nitrogen before they enter Lake Erie, thereby preventing harmful algal blooms. This directly supports SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), specifically Target 6.3 on improving water quality by reducing pollution, and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), Target 14.1 on preventing nutrient pollution.

• Data confirmed that all 10 monitored wetlands function as net nutrient sinks, retaining more nutrients than they release.
• The program provides critical validation for wetland restoration as a nature-based solution to combat land-based pollution affecting major water bodies.
• The research is unique in its scope, examining a wide variety of wetland designs under a single programmatic umbrella to identify the most effective strategies.

Best Practices for Wetland Restoration and Management

The report identifies several key factors that maximize the effectiveness of wetland projects, offering a blueprint for future restoration efforts aimed at achieving environmental targets.

1. Strategic Location: The most effective wetlands are those constructed on former agricultural land. This practice transforms land from a nutrient source into a nutrient sink, contributing to the restoration of terrestrial ecosystems as outlined in SDG 15 (Life on Land).
2. Hydrological Connectivity: To function effectively as “kidneys of the landscape,” wetlands must have a direct connection to an external nutrient source, such as a river or agricultural drainage system. This design principle is crucial for fulfilling their role in protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems under SDG 6.6.
3. Water Flow Management: While naturally flowing systems are effective, wetlands with active water-control systems, such as pumps, demonstrate more reliable nutrient capture, particularly in varying weather conditions like drought. This enhances resilience, a key component of SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Contribution to Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health (SDG 15)

The Role of Native Vegetation in Nutrient Sequestration

A novel component of the research focuses on the role of native plants in nutrient retention, a largely unexplored area that is critical for promoting biodiversity alongside water quality goals, in line with SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• The research challenges the assumption that only aggressive, often invasive, species are effective at nutrient capture.
• Data indicates that diverse, native plant species can perform as well as or better than invasive species in nutrient absorption, demonstrating that biodiversity does not have to be sacrificed for functional performance.
• Findings suggest that specific native plants, such as soft rush, may offer dual benefits of high nutrient absorption and drought resilience, making them valuable for climate-adaptive restoration projects (SDG 13).

Challenges, Future Research, and Long-Term Sustainability

Unresolved Questions and Future Research Priorities

While the initial findings are promising, the report emphasizes that the wetlands are still in their infancy and long-term monitoring is essential.

1. Long-Term Efficacy: Continued monitoring is required to determine if wetlands will remain effective nutrient sinks as they mature or if they risk becoming sources of legacy phosphorus.
2. Climate Mitigation (SDG 13): Future research aims to assess the full biogeochemical function of these wetlands, including their net balance of carbon storage versus methane emissions, to clarify their role in climate action.
3. Ecosystem Development: Further study is needed to understand how below-ground biomass and root systems develop over time, which is critical for long-term nutrient storage.
4. Innovative Design: Researchers hope to evaluate new restoration techniques, such as beaver dam analogs and micro-topography, to further enhance wetland functionality.

Funding and Partnership Challenges (SDG 17)

The continuation of this vital research faces significant challenges that could impede progress toward achieving key SDGs.

• The state legislature has cut H2Ohio’s wetland funding by over 50%, from $46.6 million to $21.2 million, threatening the future of the monitoring program.
• The program requires new funding by January 1, 2026, to continue its operations.
• In response, researchers are actively pursuing alternative funding sources and strengthening collaborative partnerships with land trusts, municipalities, and consulting firms to ensure the continuation of their work, highlighting the importance of SDG 17 in overcoming obstacles to sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article’s central theme is improving water quality by using wetlands to filter nutrient runoff from farms. This directly addresses the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, specifically by tackling water pollution from agricultural sources to prevent “toxic algal blooms” in Lake Erie.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The primary motivation for the H2Ohio program is to protect Lake Erie’s aquatic ecosystem. By reducing the flow of phosphorus and nitrogen that “become food for toxic algae,” the project aims to mitigate the harmful effects of eutrophication, which depletes oxygen and harms aquatic life. This aligns with the goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article focuses on the restoration of wetland ecosystems. It discusses converting former agricultural land into wetlands, studying native plant species and their role in nutrient capture, and understanding how to best restore these habitats. This connects directly to the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The issue originates from agricultural practices (“nutrient runoff from farms”). The solution involves a more sustainable approach to land management where small parcels of agricultural land are converted into wetlands. This relates to the goal of ending hunger by promoting sustainable agriculture (Target 2.4) that minimizes environmental degradation and maintains ecosystem health.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article describes the purpose-built wetlands as carefully engineered systems, mentioning “active pump systems,” “private sector innovations,” and the development of “best practices for restoration.” The H2Ohio program itself is presented as a “lab for these new ideas,” highlighting the role of scientific research and innovation in developing sustainable green infrastructure.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article touches upon climate action by mentioning future research into the role of wetlands in carbon storage and their methane emissions. It also discusses research on how native plants adapt to “weather extremes, such as the drought that gripped Ohio,” which is relevant to building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution. The entire project is designed to “capture phosphorus and nitrogen that leach from farmland” to reduce water pollution and improve the quality of water flowing into Lake Erie.
   • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The article is a direct case study of this target, focusing on the restoration of wetlands to improve the health of the broader Lake Erie watershed.

2. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including… nutrient pollution. The project’s goal to stop nutrient runoff from farms before it reaches Lake Erie is a clear example of action towards this target.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of… inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular… wetlands. The H2Ohio program is explicitly focused on wetland restoration.
   • Target 15.3: By 2030… restore degraded land and soil. The article notes that the most effective projects are “built on former agricultural land,” turning land from a “nutrient emitter into a nutrient sink,” which is a form of land restoration.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity. The research on native plants, their effectiveness in nutrient capture, and the finding that “you don’t have to sacrifice diversity in favor of the nutrient capture” directly supports this target.

4. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices… that help maintain ecosystems. The use of wetlands to mitigate the negative downstream effects of farming is an implementation of a practice that helps make agriculture more sustainable.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Amount of nutrients retained: The primary measure of success mentioned is that “each wetland retained more nutrients than it released.” The research aims to get a “final number [of nutrients captured],” which serves as a direct indicator for water quality improvement (Target 6.3) and pollution reduction (Target 14.1).
• Area of wetlands restored: The article specifies the size of the wetlands, ranging “from 5 to 173 acres.” The total acreage of restored wetlands is a key indicator for progress on ecosystem restoration (Targets 6.6 and 15.1).
• Plant biomass and root system depth: The research team measured “how much biomass wetland plants were storing underground” by collecting soil samples and filtering out roots. This is a specific, scientific indicator used to assess the effectiveness of different plant species in nutrient capture, relating to biodiversity and ecosystem function (Target 15.5).
• Native plant species diversity and performance: The article discusses research comparing the nutrient capture of native plants to invasive species. The finding that some native species “perform just as well” and that diversity can be maintained is an indicator of successful, biodiverse ecosystem restoration (Target 15.5).
• Net carbon balance (Carbon storage vs. Methane emissions): Although not yet measured, the article identifies this as a key area for future research. This implies that the net greenhouse gas balance of the restored wetlands is a potential future indicator for climate action (SDG 13).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: insideclimatenews.org