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A review of habitat restoration projects in Great Lakes Areas of Concern: Restoration targets, goals, and monitoring paradigms
Citation:
Newcomer-Johnson, T., D. White, M. Kern, J. Hoffman, M. Mills, G. Beaubien, T. Angradi, Jim Lazorchak, M. Struckhoff, A. Trebitz, D. Walters, K. Williams, AND S. Green. A review of habitat restoration projects in Great Lakes Areas of Concern: Restoration targets, goals, and monitoring paradigms. 2022 Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting (JASM), Grand Rapids, MI, May 14 - 20, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) accelerated the implementation of restoration projects aimed at improving terrestrial and aquatic habitat, and ultimately removing Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs). Systematic approaches for assessing the effectiveness of restoration efforts are needed. We analyzed 19 projects across 10 Areas of Concern that were ~5 years post-construction and had adequate baseline data such as planting plans, design specifications, physical and chemical surveys, wildlife population assessments (e.g., aquatic invertebrates, birds, frogs, fish), etc. against which restoration can be evaluated through long-term monitoring and possibly expanded assessments. This overview is intended to facilitate understanding restoration effectiveness across many AOCs and to inform planning and management strategies for future habitat restoration projects.
Description:
The federal government, state and local governments, and industrial and private partners invest heavily in the restoration of impaired sites within the Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). Common issues include persistent sediment contamination, habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity, and invasive species impacts that result in beneficial use impairments (BUIs) that reduce or prevent safe use of these resources. Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) accelerated the implementation of restoration projects aimed at improving aquatic, riparian, floodplain, wetland and upland habitats, and ultimately removing BUIs. Systematic approaches for assessing the effectiveness of restoration efforts are needed. Here, we present an examination of habitat restoration projects that were implemented as part of a broader strategy aimed at transforming impaired sites into restored ecosystems that support revitalized human communities. Projects selected for analysis were ~5 years post-construction and had adequate baseline data including design specifications, physical and chemical surveys, and biodiversity assessments (e.g., aquatic invertebrates, birds, frogs, fish) against which restoration can be evaluated through long-term monitoring and possibly expanded assessments. We used project planning documents, reports, and personal communications with project experts to assess the habitats and stressors addressed, restoration goals, monitoring approaches, and project success for 19 restoration projects across 10 AOCs. This overview is intended to document restoration effectiveness, restoration goals and designs, and to inform planning and management strategies for future AOC projects. Lessons learned are broadly applicable to impaired sites that are being remediated and restored in the Great Lakes and elsewhere.
