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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Science Programs

The majority of ecological research conducted at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) supports Department of the Interior (DOI) issues and lands in the Upper Midwest. UMESC also coordinates its research with other U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Science Centers, to broadly address ecological and population concerns throughout the Nation's heartland.

UMESC has identified a series of Science Programs, used to group similar science projects, researchers, and administrative resources/needs. Individual science projects are conducted at the Team level. It is not uncommon for individual team members (researchers and support staff) to have associations with multiple Science Teams and Programs.

Aquatic Ecosystem Health:The role of the Aquatic Ecosystem Health program is to conduct research to protect, mitigate, and enhance the health of aquatic ecosystems.  Research conducted within the Program is focused on the following 3 areas of study, (1) controlling aquatic invasive species, (2) fisheries restoration, and (3) understanding the impacts of contaminants on aquatic ecosystems.

River Ecology: The River Ecology program focuses their research on; providing information on the overall structure and function of aquatic ecosystems; providing specific information on available resources; and evaluating various management, consveration, and restoration practices, to determine how such practices affect aquatic ecosystems.

Long Term Resource Monitoring Program: The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) provides decision makers with the scientific information needed to maintain the Upper Mississippi River System as a viable multiple-use large river ecosystem. The LTRMP is a federally mandated cooperative program, between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Wildlife Ecology: The Wildlife Ecology program provides scientific information to UMESC's partners to support the conservation and management of terrestrial (primarily amphibian and reptile) and avian (birds and bat) species.

Geospatial Sciences and Technology: The Geospatial Sciences and Technology (GST) program focuses its efforts on providing technical and data development assistance to UMESC and its program partners. The GST teams specialize in; using geospatial (location referenced) and remote sensing technology to collect, create, and analyze geospatial data; and creating decision support tools that make geospatial data and technology more accessible to resource managers and researchers.


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URL: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/programs.html
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Page Last Modified: December 31, 2012