Long-term Monitoring of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands and Contributions to the Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program Active
The Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program (CWMP) is an EPA-led program to monitor the health of all Great Lakes coastal wetlands larger than four hectares. USGS scientists are working with Principal Investigators from many State and academic institutions to conduct data collection, implement standardized sampling protocols, analyze multiparameter data, and communicate results to the public.
The USGS team works to share information on the purpose of the Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program, what data are collected (i.e., fish, macroinvertebrate, bird, anuran, and vegetation community metrics alongside abiotic parameters), how to request access to the data through the program’s online database, and what further opportunities there may be for collaboration. We are active participants on many other teams (e.g., Coastal Assembly, H2Ohio) and use those collaborations to enhance use of CWMP data as land managers prioritize investments in coastal wetland restoration. Well-established coordination between the CWMP and the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) effort has produced two decision support tools that can guide coastal wetland restoration and management basin-wide.
CWMP sampling protocols are often a foundation for our long-term monitoring studies (e.g., long-term monitoring of wetland restoration at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge) and are shared widely to encourage data collection strategies that promote landscape-scale analysis. Similarly, previous long-term research studies by the USGS at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge supported designation of that site as a “benchmark site” that allowed longer-term annual post-restoration monitoring.
USGS contributions to the CWMP promoted better communication among GLRI-funded wetland restoration and monitoring projects, increased opportunities for collaboration among scientists and restoration practitioners, reduced duplication of effort, and improved research studies within the USGS.
Partners
This project is part of the USGS Great Lakes Science Center’s wetlands research. Visit our page to learn about more collaborative research projects.
The Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program (CWMP) is an EPA-led program to monitor the health of all Great Lakes coastal wetlands larger than four hectares. USGS scientists are working with Principal Investigators from many State and academic institutions to conduct data collection, implement standardized sampling protocols, analyze multiparameter data, and communicate results to the public.
The USGS team works to share information on the purpose of the Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program, what data are collected (i.e., fish, macroinvertebrate, bird, anuran, and vegetation community metrics alongside abiotic parameters), how to request access to the data through the program’s online database, and what further opportunities there may be for collaboration. We are active participants on many other teams (e.g., Coastal Assembly, H2Ohio) and use those collaborations to enhance use of CWMP data as land managers prioritize investments in coastal wetland restoration. Well-established coordination between the CWMP and the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) effort has produced two decision support tools that can guide coastal wetland restoration and management basin-wide.
CWMP sampling protocols are often a foundation for our long-term monitoring studies (e.g., long-term monitoring of wetland restoration at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge) and are shared widely to encourage data collection strategies that promote landscape-scale analysis. Similarly, previous long-term research studies by the USGS at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge supported designation of that site as a “benchmark site” that allowed longer-term annual post-restoration monitoring.
USGS contributions to the CWMP promoted better communication among GLRI-funded wetland restoration and monitoring projects, increased opportunities for collaboration among scientists and restoration practitioners, reduced duplication of effort, and improved research studies within the USGS.
Partners
This project is part of the USGS Great Lakes Science Center’s wetlands research. Visit our page to learn about more collaborative research projects.