FERGUS FALLS, Minn. - Scientists are checking on the health of wetlands across the state, as part of a project to determine how well conservation programs are working.
There are about 10 million acres of wetlands across Minnesota.
Some are big areas of open water encircled by cattails, while others aren't much more than grassy spots several hundred feet wide.
The state enacted a policy in 1991 that called for no net loss of wetlands.
A Minnesota Public Radio report says the policy didn't include a comprehensive way to measure success or failure, and experts were raising alarms that wetlands for being lost.
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So officials are monitoring wetland quality and quantity, exploring the areas by foot and using aerial photographs.
