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Wetlands in the Great Lakes Region What's New | Overview | General Resources State and Provincial Resources | Related Resources 
What's New Reviving Michigan's coastal marshes` Michigan Radio (9/22) Even though there are just a few wild rice plants this year, researchers think Arcadia Marsh near Traverse City, Michigan, will be a place where the plant can thrive in the future, now that much of the damage done to the marsh in the last 200 years is being repaired. Carefully constructed wetland unveiled in Tommy Thompson Park The Toronto Star (9/14) The second phase of an ongoing restoration project for rare birds, endangered species and more was unveiled at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto. New wetlands area at Two Rivers nature preserve WLUK-TV - Green Bay, WI (8/29) At the Woodland Dunes Nature Preserve near Two Rivers, Wis., a new wetlands area is now open for business. Dingell, conservation leaders highlight project in Ann Arbor Township MLive (8/9) U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and conservation leaders gathered near Ann Arbor, Mich., to tour restoration efforts, while calling for reauthorization of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act. Disappearing wetlands: Ohio’s marshes then and now The Toledo Blade (7/31) Marshes and wetlands are nature’s water filter, nursery, and incubator, and also its sanctuary for many creatures, but advocates say an alarming number of wetlands and marshes have been filled in along the lake and in the greater Toledo area in Ohio. UMD researchers reveal data from wetland studies in the Northland KQDS-TV - Duluth, MN (7/27) From Green Bay Wisconsin to Duluth Minnesota, research is being conducted to figure out the current status of our lakes and rivers when it comes to invasive species, and other aquatic trespassers.
Overview The extensive freshwater marshes of the Great Lakes coasts are unique in ecological character, size and variety. They range from small wetlands nestled in scattered bays to extensive shoreline wetlands such as those of southwestern Lake Erie, freshwater estuaries such as the Kakagon Sloughs of northern Wisconsin and the enormous freshwater delta marshes of the St. Clair River. The basin has four main types of wetlands, each with it own set of chemical and physical characteristics, plants and wildlife. Marshes are usually associated with ponds, lakes or streams. Typical plants include rushes, reeds, cattails and lily pads. Swamps are wooded wetlands characterized by conifers, hardwoods or shrubby vegetation. Bogs are areas with minimal water flow, highly acidic peaty soils and carpets of mosses, especially Sphagnum. Vegetation such as black spruce, blueberries, cranberries, orchids and insect-eating plants are typical. Fens are similar to bogs but with less acidic soil, due to more ground and surface water flowing through. Sedges and low shrubs prevail, with some orchids and insect-eating plants. Wetlands provide habitats for many kinds of plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else. For ducks, geese and other migratory birds, wetlands are the most important part of the migratory cycle, providing food, resting places and seasonal habitats. Wetlands also play an essential role in sustaining a productive fishery, with many species of Great Lakes fish depending on coastal wetlands for successful reproduction. Unfortunately, wetlands and the wildlife who rely on them for habitat feel the brunt of unwise land-use practices. More than two-thirds of the natural Great Lakes wetlands have already been filled in or drained for agriculture, urban uses, shoreline development, recreation and resource extraction (such as peat mining). The loss of these lands poses special problems for hydrological processes and water quality because of the natural storage and cleansing functions of wetlands.
General Resources Amphibians and Reptiles in Great Lakes Wetlands: Threats and Conservation Environment Canada This fact sheet describes the importance of Great Lakes wetlands to people, to the ecology of the biosphere, and especially to the amphibians and reptiles that depend upon wetlands for their survival. Aquatic Habitat and Wetlands of the Great Lakes U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) This July 1994 paper introduces Great Lakes habitat types, presenting their ecological significance and their present state. It also addresses the types of impacts on habitats, and presents existing habitat protection and restoration initiatives along with a discussion on management implications. Coastal Wetlands Ecosystem U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) Presented at the '98 SOLEC conference, this paper builds on the work begun in SOLEC '96. The ultimate objective is to identify areas of the Great Lakes shoreline that contain high quality faunal habitat that could be identified as "Biodiversity Investment Areas". Ducks Unlimited Dedicated to fulfilling the annual life cycle needs of North American waterfowl. Ducks Unlimited Canada Dedicated to conserving wetlands and associated habitats for the benefit of North America's waterfowl. Ducks Unlimited: Great Lakes/Atlantic Region The Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office provides comprehensive conservation solutions to help restore and protect diminishing wetlands in 18 states, from Wisconsin to Virginia and north to Maine. Great Lakes Wetlands Conservation Action Plan Environment Canada National Wetlands Inventory U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Provides such information as wetlands classification, the national list of wetland plant species and maps. National Wetlands Research Center U.S. Department of the Interior The Department of the Interior is custodian of approximately 500 million acres of federally owned land and has an important role to play in the management of wetlands. This page summarizes the departments activities regarding wetlands. Regulatory Programs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Great Lakes Regional Headquarters An overview of the Corps' regulatory programs with links to the four districts that maintain the permits for the Great Lakes basin. Status and Trends of U.S. Wetlands, 1986-1997 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service This report provides the most recent and comprehensive estimates of the current status and trends of wetlands in the contiguous 48 states on public and private lands. A major report finding is that the nation's estimated wetlands loss rate has declined by 80 percent from the previous decade. Wetlands Factsheet U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Great Lakes Science Center Defines a wetland and outlines their natural functions, value and unique importance. Wetlands for Wildlife National Audubon Society Home page for the Society's Wetland Campaign. Wetlands Interactive Mapper Tool National Wetlands Inventory Integrates spatial processing (eg. zoom, pan, identify, etc.) to allow users to view and identify NWI data in a spatial context. Currently, the applet is designed to display three spatial themes: National Wetlands Inventory, streams and road data. This tool allows the general public to view digital wetlands data, conduct simple processing and print a custom map on their letter sized color printer. Wisconsin Wetlands Association (WWA) WWA was established in 1969 to protect Wisconsin's wetland resources through education, training, advocacy, and research on key issues that affect wetlands.
State and Provincial Resources ILLINOIS Illinois Wetlands Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) The mission of the Wetlands Program is to promote the protection, management, restoration and creation of wetlands to ensure a high quality of life for present and future generations. Lake Calumet Wetlands Sierra Club Dedicated to protecting the wetlands of Calumet region, covering southeast Chicago, some south suburbs, and northwest Indiana. Twin Groves Virtual Wetland Preserve Created for Illinois' Museums in the Classroom program Learn about biodiversity through this online educational tour of Illinois wetlands. INDIANA Indiana Wetlands Indiana Department of Environmental Management Information on efforts to protect Indiana's wetlands. MICHIGAN Great Lakes Wetlands Michigan Sea Grant Provides information on Michigan's wetlands as well as maps of the wetlands found in the Great Lakes Region. Wetlands of the Great Lakes Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension These web pages will take you on a tour of some Lake Huron wetlands and explain some of the features. MINNESOTA Minnesota Wetlands Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Provides information on wetlands, maps, programs, and permits. Wetlands of Minnesota University of Minnesota Educational information on wetlands. NEW YORK OHIO Ohio Wetlands Foundation The Foundation's mission is to provide cost effective, high quality, wetland off-site compensatory mitigation credits and to fund wetlands research and education. PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania's Wetlands Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection WISCONSIN Assessment and inventory of coastal wetlands in Manitowoc County, WI The final report of a project between the Water Resource Management Program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and the Manitowoc County Planning and Parks Commission to examine the coastal wetlands of Manitowoc County. Assessment of Coastal Wetlands of Wisconsin's Great Lakes Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Learn about wetlands in Wisconsin's Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Mississippi basins in this series of public products. Waterway and Wetland Permits Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Designed to address many questions regarding Wisconsin's Water Regulation and Zoning requirements and other water related issues. Wisconsin Wetlands Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) From the calcareous fens near Waukesha to the sedge meadows in Cherokee Marsh, to the tamarack forests of northwestern Wisconsin, wetlands cover a dazzling array of landscapes. Learn how to reverse the decline in Wisconsin wetland acreage and quality. Wisconsin Wetlands Association (WWA) WWA was established in 1969 to protect Wisconsin's wetland resources through education, training, advocacy, and research on key issues that affect wetlands. CANADA Canada's Aquatic Environments: Wetlands Canada's Aquatic Environments: Wetlands Includes background, types of wetlands and descriptions of wetland regions in Canada. wetkit: Tools for working with wetlands in Canada North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Canada) wetkit is a web-based tool kit designed to streamline access to practical tools that can help Canadians better understand and manage wetlands. Common questions are answered including: What does the law require? and How can wetland conservation benefit my business? Wetland Habitat Fund Provides private landowners in Ontario with financial assistance for projects that improve the ecological integrity of wetland habitats. Wetlands in Canada Environment Canada's Freshwater Web Wetlands Research Centre University of Waterloo Working Around Wetlands? Environment Canada Published as part of the Great Lakes Wetlands Conservation Action Plan (GLWCAP), this document describes the issues and laws of working near a wetland. Related Resources GLIN: Agencies and Organizations, Environment GLIN: Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Biodiversity in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Endangered and Threatened Species in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Environmental Research in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Habitats of the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Invasive Species in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Land Use in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Watersheds in the Great Lakes Region
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