Using coastal wetland monitoring data to determine the effectiveness of restoration actions

Session: Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands: Innovative Research to Improve Restoration (1)

Dan Moore, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, [email protected]
Heather Pankhurst, Central Lake Ontario Conserv., [email protected]

Abstract

A critical component of the restoration process involves setting goals and objectives that reflect a desired change in a measurable indicator. However, many restoration projects fail to accomplish this for a variety of reasons, such as the complexity of the task, the lack of a planning framework, insufficient background data, and/or funding limitations. In the absence of SMART goals and objectives, evaluating restoration success is difficult and when attempted, often misrepresents the results. This presentation will discuss how Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority uses data from two long-term coastal wetland monitoring programs to set goals and objectives and evaluate project success. Using Oshawa Second Marsh as an example, we will discuss the design of the long-term monitoring programs, how that informs developing meaningful goals and objectives, and how we can use these to determine the success or failure of restoration actions.