Since 1996, ACD and local partners have monitored the subsurface water levels of 19 wetlands located throughout Anoka County. Reference wetland data provide insights into shallow groundwater hydrology trends. This can be useful for a variety of purposes, from flood predictions to indices of drought severity.
Wetland regulations are often focused on determining whether a specific area is, or is not, a wetland. This is difficult at times because most wetlands are not continually wet, especially at the surface. To help facilitate fair, accurate wetland determinations. These monitored wetlands serve as a reference for conditions in Anoka County, and are thus called reference wetlands. This hydrologic information, along with examination of the vegetation and soils, aids in the accurate wetland determinations and delineations.
Water levels in Anoka County wetlands can vary greatly depending on the time of year and seasonal precipitation. For example, in a normal precipitation year, many wetlands display seasonal hydrology that is near the surface in the spring, and then drops 40 inches or more later in the growing season. Current and historical wetland monitoring results can be viewed or downloaded using our Data Access Tool.
