1. United States
2. N.D.
3. Letter

Dear ND representatives, I’m asking you to take the protection of North Dakota’s prairie pothole wetlands seriously. The small wetlands you refer to as “puddles and divots” are not insignificant. They are essential habitat for breeding waterfowl and provide important benefits to North Dakota’s landscape. These smaller wetlands are also among the most vulnerable to drainage, which is why reasonable protections and setbacks are so important. It is also misleading to suggest that every protected wetland comes with a “massive” buffer around it. The purpose of setbacks is to help prevent drainage infrastructure, including tile drainage, from being installed so close to protected wetlands that it inadvertently drains them and potentially places landowners in legal jeopardy. North Dakota’s wetland-rich landscape is part of what makes our state unique. Prairie potholes provide breeding habitat for waterfowl, store water, help reduce flooding, support healthy soils and watersheds, and retain water that can be valuable during periods of drought. Losing these wetlands can have consequences far beyond the individual pothole being drained. We should be looking for ways to protect North Dakota’s remaining wetlands while giving landowners clear, workable rules—not policies that gradually move our landscape toward the heavily drained systems found elsewhere in the Midwest. Please recognize the ecological and agricultural value of these wetlands and support policies that preserve North Dakota’s prairie potholes for future generations. Sincerely A concerned ND resident