A data visualization tool to support protection and restoration of Great Lakes coastal wetlands

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

Matthew Cooper, Northland College, Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation, [email protected]
Todd Redder, LimnoTech, [email protected]
Valerie Brady, Natural Resource Research Inst., University of Minnesota Duluth, [email protected]
Donald Uzarski, Central Michigan University, IGLR, CMUBS, and Department of Biology, [email protected]

Abstract

Coastal wetlands are important centers of biotic productivity, nutrient cycling, flood storage, and various other ecosystem services. However, coastal wetlands throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes have been affected by many anthropogenic stressors, which necessitates both restoration of impaired wetlands and protection of well-functioning wetlands. The Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program is assessing status and trends in wetland conditions, generating data to prioritize wetland protection and restoration, and tracking long-term outcomes of restoration projects.  The monitoring program was implemented in 2011 and is now in its 9th year.  Data generated by the program are being incorporated into a new decision support and visualization tool.  The tool allows users to select wetland attributes of interest, visualize results in a mapping environment, and download results of customized scenarios.  The tool is currently available for approximately half of the wetlands sampled by the CWMP with future expansions planned. Our goals are to refine the tool based on user feedback and to expand its geographic extent throughout the Great Lakes basin.