Partners cooperating in the survey include the Services Bloomington, Indiana, Field Office, EPAs Mid-Continent Ecology Division, other federal and state resource agencies, tribes, universities, and non-profit organizations. Researchers are studying more than 200 wetlands along Great Lakes coasts to evaluate their condition and look for indicators they can use in the future to assess wetland health.
The goal of the project is to help resource managers evaluate the condition of coastal wetlands by inspecting key components of these areas, such as fish health, aquatic plants, and aquatic insects. Such study provides a benchmark for restoration of coastal wetlands and allows managers to monitor for environmental impacts to these sensitive areas.
"This is the first time a study of this magnitude has been conducted on coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes," said Dr. Thomas Simon, Service biologist. "Once we understand what is missing from coastal wetlands, we can attempt to manage and restore them for future generations."
Wetlands provide important functions for species they support, such as habitat for waterfowl, migratory birds, fish, and aquatic insects. They also provide a host of benefits to people, including filtering contaminants and holding floodwaters.
It is estimated that less than 20 percent of the wetlands that once occurred along the coasts of the Great Lakes now remain. Wetlands have been filled, drained, and degraded through encroachment and pollution. Wetlands and the species they support are particularly vulnerable to industrial pollution, erosion and sedimentation, and invasion from non-native species.
"Wetlands should be viewed as the canary in the coal mine," Simon said. "When we see problems with the wetlands, we know that the environment that supports fish, wildlife --and ourselves -- is in trouble."
While surveying the wetlands, scientists and volunteers used different techniques to collect fish, including netting and boat electrofishing. They also netted aquatic insects for sampling and visually documented the health of aquatic plants. Fieldwork for this project started in October of 1999 and is expected to be finished in July of 2002. The completion of the study reports is projected one year following finalization of all fieldwork.
For more information on this project contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dr. Thomas Simon at (812) 334-4261 ext. 213, or the U.S. EPA, Dr. Mary Moffett at (218) 529-5274.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principle Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 535 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological service field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit our home page at http://midwest.fws.gov
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