Spatial and temporal (2011-2018) variation of water quality in Great Lakes coastal wetlands

Session: Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands: Innovative Research to Improve Restoration (4)

Anna Harrison, Central Michigan University, Institute for Great Lakes Research, [email protected]
Matthew Cooper, Northland College, Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation, [email protected]
Donald Uzarski, Central Michigan University, IGLR, CMUBS, and Department of Biology, [email protected]

Abstract

Coastal wetlands of the Laurentian Great Lakes provide important ecological functions, economic value and recreational benefits to the region. Despite their importance, these shoreline adjacent habitats are susceptible to water quality impairments driven by runoff from the landscape. As part of the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program, water quality monitoring of conditions in coastal wetlands has been ongoing since 2011. Using data collected in coastal wetlands spanning the entire Great Lakes basin, we assessed the influences of landscape variables on water chemistry, specifically those variables indicative of human land use, including chloride (Cl^-), nitrate + nitrite (NO_x) and soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP). We found annual variation in water quality and spatial variation, both locally among wetland vegetation types and regionally within the Great Lakes basin. Wetlands dominated by non-native invasive vegetation (Phragmites spp.) had higher Cl^-, NO_x and SRP, compared to native wetland vegetation types (e.g., wet meadows, wild rice and Schoenoplectus spp.). The northern basin regions typically had lower nutrients than those in the southern basin. Our data showcase the importance of monitoring to understand nutrient and pollution trends in coastal wetlands, and support the need for management efforts focused on reducing nutrient and pollution loads.

Twitter handle of presenter
@AnnaMHarr