01/23/2026
REGINA ā Drained wetlands are adding to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions on the Prairies more than suspected, a new study has found.
The results of the study conducted in the Prairie pothole region by researchers, farmers, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the National Farmers Union were published in the international science journal FACETS in December.
The study also found that claims of emissions reductions from not having to farm around a wetland, therefore avoiding extra fuel costs or fertilizer application, donāt hold up.
Kerri Finlay, the Canada Research Chair in Water in a Changing Environment and director of the Institute for Environmental Change and Society at the University of Regina, said draining a wetland adds at least five per cent, and up to eight per cent, more carbon dioxide to the air.
Why it Matters: Agricultural drainage is a complex topic. Some producers say they are more profitable when they can drain smaller wetlands and farm them, while others say the value of wetlands for habitat and to act as filters to preserve water quality is more important.
The co-author of the study said one reason to conduct it was to consider claims that farmers could be more environmentally friendly by farming through former wetlands rather than around them. They say they can save fuel and use less fertilizer, resulting in lower emissions.
āWe took that into consideration, and it does offset a little bit of the emissions that occur when you drain the wetlands, but itās not nearly enough to offset all of it,ā she said in an interview.
The main reason is the rich organic matter sitting at the bottom of the wetland.
āOnce you drain it and expose it, thereās just massive amounts of carbon dioxide thatās being released, and so any of these smaller savings just donāt add up,ā she said.
āProponents argue that āproper drainage management ā¦ reduces the carbon footprint by cutting down equipment operation time, fuel and emissions, reduces the impacts of extreme weather events and decreases overland flooding and nutrient washouts,ā ā the study said.
āThis assertion of the environmental benefits associated with wetland drainage is not supported by science.ā
Wetlands naturally release methane, so there is some reduction in those emissions after drainage. However, Finlay said since this is a natural source of emissions, there is no credit for removing it.
She likened it to livestock that release methane. A producer might get credit for reducing cattle numbers and therefore methane, but wonāt get credit if they culled a bunch of deer.
āEven with that, we are still increasing emissions by five per cent, even if we remove that natural source,ā she said.
To those who might say five, or even eight, per cent is not a lot, she said her argument is that itās simple and easy to just not add it at all by leaving wetlands intact.
Using Canadaās 2024 carbon price, the additional emissions cost about $171 million per year.
The peer-reviewed study was based on the removal of small wetlands of less than 12 acres. Finlay said many were surprised at how great the emissions were.
One of her next steps is to include these emissions in the National Inventory Report of emissions. She said this is a āsignificant blind spotā in climate accounting, and the values must be added to the inventory to help shape future policy.
She also sees an opportunity to have more conversations about wetland drainage overall and the options and opportunities the practice represents.
For example, she said some wetlands might not provide the same level of ecosystem services as others and could be consolidated or moved.
āI feel like thereās some opportunities in there to recognize the desire or the need for people to be able to manage water on their landscape, but to do so without a net negative impact on the environment, and I donāt think thatās where the conversation has gone,ā Finlay said.
āIn the last couple of years itās just been pro or against and weāve gotten really entrenched in our sides rather than looking for options that might allow for some collaborative solution.ā
