Flyways.us

Wetland numbers and conditions remained fair to good in the eastern U.S. prairies, but habitat conditions declined through the western Dakotas and Montana. The 2010 pond estimate for the north-central U.S. of 2.9 ± 0.1 million, which was similar to last year's (2.9 ± 0.1 million) and 87% above the long-term average (1.6 ± 0.02 million). Fall and winter precipitation in the eastern Dakotas generally improved good habitat conditions already present. However, wetlands in the western Dakotas and Montana were not recharged, resulting in a deterioration of conditions from 2009, at the time the survey was conducted.