Wetlands of the American Midwest

How people perceive wetlands has always played a crucial role in determining how people act toward them. In this account, Hugh Prince examines literary evidence as well as government and scientific documents to uncover the history of changing attitudes toward wetlands in the American Midwest. As attitudes changed, so did scientific research agendas, government policies, and farmers' strategies for managing their land. Originally viewed as bountiful sources of wildlife by indigenous peoples, wet areas called "wet prairies," "swamps," or "bogs" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were considered productive only when drained for agricultural use. Beginning in the 1950s, many came to regard these renamed "wetlands" as valuable for wildlife and soil conservation. The book should interest geographers and environmental historians to government and private agencies, and individuals concerned with wetland research, management, and preservation.