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DESIGNING MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES TO INCLUDE NEARSHORE ECOSYSTEMS OF THE GREAT LAKES
Citation:
Kelly, J. R., J A. Morrice, P. M. Yurista, AND S E. Miller. DESIGNING MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES TO INCLUDE NEARSHORE ECOSYSTEMS OF THE GREAT LAKES. Presented at National Monitoring Conference 2002 of the National Water Quality Council, Madison, WI, May 21-23, 2002.
Description:
An expectation for monitoring and assessment of very large aquatic systems is that we can develop a strategy that recognizes and reports on ecologically-important subareas using spatially-stratified, probabilistic sampling designs. Ongoing efforts monitor the main-body, offshore water quality of the Great Lakes. However, assessment of conditions in nearshore/coastal ecosystems (including harbors, embayments, tributary receiving areas) is lacking, even though nearshore systems contain critical habitats whose vulnerability to stressors inherently differs from the open water. Two issues-the diversity among, and environmental variability within, nearshore systems-present challenges. We need to define nearshore resourcee classes, in terms of distinct physical and ecological dimensions, that are meaningful sub-units for monitoring. Additionally, we need new monitoring measures and styles of sampling, given inherent dynamics and variability. This presentation describes recent efforts to define nearshore resource classes, including through use of continuous, synoptic sampling technologies for characterizing water, sediment, and biological conditions. Results highlight an ability to discriminate shoreline zones receiving even small tributary inputs and progress in defining an embayment resource class. Efforts couple with a multi-institutional, EPA STAR cooperative agreement to develop Great Lakes coastal indicators. The overall goal is a next-generation program of monitoring and assessment which provides a reliable information base to use in decisions affecting the quality of all the Great Lakes. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.An expectation for monitoring and assessment of very large aquatic systems is that we can develop a strategy that recognizes and reports on ecologically-important subareas using spatially-stratified, probabilistic sampling designs. Ongoing efforts monitor the main-body, offshore water quality of the Great Lakes. However, assessment of conditions in nearshore/coastal ecosystems (including harbors, embayments, tributary receiving areas) is lacking, even though nearshore systems contain critical habitats whose vulnerability to stressors inherently differs from the open water. Two issues-the diversity among, and environmental variability within, nearshore systems-present challenges. We need to define nearshore resourcee classes, in terms of distinct physical and ecological dimensions, that are meaningful sub-units for monitoring. Additionally, we need new monitoring measures and styles of sampling, given inherent dynamics and variability. This presentation describes recent efforts to define nearshore resource classes, including through use of continuous, synoptic sampling technologies for characterizing water, sediment, and biological conditions. Results highlight an ability to discriminate shoreline zones receiving even small tributary inputs and progress in defining an embayment resource class. Efforts couple with a multi-institutional, EPA STAR cooperative agreement to develop Great Lakes coastal indicators. The overall goal is a next-generation program of monitoring and assessment which provides a reliable information base to use in decisions affecting the quality of all the Great Lakes. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.