Prairie Pothole Region

km and expands across three Canadian provinces (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta) and five U.S. states (Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, and Montana).

[5] The hydrology of the potholes is very variable, responding to changes in precipitation and groundwater, and results in regular wet-and-dry cycles.

During times of drought, shortgrass species increase and expand their range, while during wetter periods, tallgrass and mixed prairie communities become more common.

[12] Climate change is an adverse factor in the long-term viability of PPR wetlands for breeding ducks and other birds.

Without mitigation, severe droughts and rising temperatures will cause many pothole wetlands to dry up sooner in the spring.

In turn, due to the timing of waterfowl migrations, these dried wetlands will not present suitable breeding habitat.

[12] Simulations suggest that climate change will shift the most productive wetlands from the center of the region (southeastern Saskatchewan and the Dakotas) to edges of the PPR in the east and north.