Wetland Restoration  
Fifteen wetlands have been restored on campus starting in 1993. They range in size from small ephemoral (temporary) ponds up to 9 acres of surface water. They were constructed through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wetland Restoration program. These wetland sites, drained years ago for agriculture, were identified by surveying and from topographic maps. Dikes were constructed and field drain tiles were destroyed if present. These wetlands now have many nesting waterfowl as well as chorusing populations of amphibians. All wetlands are surrounded by the other natural areas (prairie and woodlands) to buffer them from agriculture and development runoff. The wetlands are part of the Cannon River watershed and help with seasonal flood control, soil stability and ground water recharge as well as provide valuable wildlife habitat.
The following picture series provides a visual synopsis of the wetland restoration processes that have occured on the St. Olaf campus.
Large Wetland NW of Skoglund parking lot
BEFORE: This is the large wetland NW of the Skoglund parking lot before restoration. It shows a mass of reed canary grass (invasive species) with no standing water. It was drained decades ago as part of US farm policies. Although it was too wet to plow and thus had no crop on it, it never held standing water. Corn was grown down the edge. This picture shows US Fish and Wildlife Service and Rice County Soil and Conservation personnel looking over the area. It was taken in September of 1992.
After: Same wetland several years after restoration. Reed canary grass has been eliminated in the pond and native prairie restored where corn once grew. The weir (water control structure) in the bottom of the picture allows us to control the water level and even to drain the pond entirely for research and continued restoration process. Occasional drought is very beneficial and stimulating to wetlands. 
AFTER: This is the same wetland the next spring after restoration (looking west to east). Some reed canary grass still emerges in the water, but it will drown out in another year (see 'after' picture to right). This first year of standing water yielded over 100 ducklings of several species of waterfowl (mallards, teal, wood ducks, coots, pied-billed grebes, etc.) that successfully nested there. Many other animals take advantage of this large wetland area too. The picture just to the right (taken Spring, 2006) shows a muskrat lodge on the south side of the pond. 

Small wetland northwest of largest wetland

BEFORE: This was a wet spot in the field that
never drained well for the farmer.		 AFTER: After some excavation and placement of a berm to hold more water, this developed into a very nice small wetland. Here students are getting water for newly planted trees in the area.
Large and small wetlands near Skoglund Parking Lot
This aerial picture was taken during fall, 1993 and shows the large wetlands just northwest of the Skoglund parking lot and 2 small wetlands just northwest of the large one. (Note: The old Ytterboe dorm is still standing in the foreground.)
Wetland Northeast of Baseball Field
Before: The picture on the left (taken in September, 1992, looking south to north) shows U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Rice County Soil Conservation Service personnel looking over this wetland. They are actually standing in an area that turned into 3' of water the following spring. It is located just northeast of the baseball field. Like the large wetland near Skoglund, this pond was drained decades ago, but not planted into crop because of its wet nature. However, once drained, it never held standing water until restoration.
AFTER: Wetland northeast of baseball field (looking north to south) during late fall, 1992 (after restoration in fall, 1992). Water has already started to be contained on the east end and will fill in completely to the west.
AFTER: Wetland northeast of baseball field
(looking north to south) during summer, 1993 (after restoration in fall, 1992). Some trees in the middle have already died and the rest of the trees on the right side of the pond will die over the next year. This has become a very popular wetland for wood ducks, hooded mergansers, and green herons.		 AFTER: This aerial picture was taken during fall, 1994, and shows the dead trees in the water with others dying. This proved to become excellent habitat for wood ducks as well as other species. The pond to the upper right was the only original pond on the St. Olaf property that was never drained for agricultures.
Runoff
The picture above shows water runoff from the Skoglund parking lot. The picture above and to the right shows the runoff going into the large wetland to the northwest of the Skoglund parking lot. Because a major portion of the watershed for our largest wetland comes from "the Hill," we have to allow this hard surface runoff to enter the wetland system. Thus, it's important that we keep our cars in good repair so they don't leak oil and gas. It's also important to find an alternative to salting our roads in the winter.