Developing Wetlands: Wetland Restoration in Floodplains

Most wetland sites occur in floodplains of Missouri streams and rivers. Flat land capable of holding water can generally be developed easily into a manageable wetland. These wetlands can provide a number of uses, from crawfish production to waterfowl hunting. Following are considerations for development of wetlands in a floodplain:

• Water for the wetland can usually be provided by overflow from adjacent streams, runoff from adjacent uplands or by pumping from the stream or well.
• The levee should be constructed to restrict water from draining quickly.
• A water control structure should be installed to allow efficient drainage and flooding. This is very important in flood plain wetlands to allow proper vegetation management.
• The levee slope should be a minimum of 4:1 up to 10:1, if the levee will be subject to overtopping by flood waters. The levee top width should be wide enough to allow equipment travel for levee maintenance purposes.
• The land used to make this type wetland need not be taken out of crop production. Fields flooded after completion of harvest provide attractive habitats, and waste grain can be an important food source for migratory waterfowl during the winter.

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