As part of American Wetlands MonthMI Environment features a story about the State of the Great Lakes Report.
Many people love the Great Lakes. They have many important roles in Michigan’s quality life. Michigan is the only state nestled in the center of a freshwater ecosystem that accounts for 20% of the planet’s fresh surface water.
People of all walks of the life visit these lakes to add value to lives. These wonderful lakes have a variety of ecosystems: dune and shoreline swale complexes; fens; and coastal marshes.
What is a Coastal Wetland and how can it help you?
Wetlands are areas in which water covers soil or is present at or near the surface of soil throughout the year. Often referred to as bogs and swamps, wetlands can support certain kinds of vegetation and aquatic life. Coastal wetlands can be found all along the Great Lakes coast. They are biological sanctuaries that provide unique and dynamic ecosystems as well as aesthetic wonders. They are essential for the health of Great Lakes.
Benefits of Coastal Wetlands
Wetlands are valuable because they clean water, replenish water supplies, reduce flood risk, and provide habitat for wildlife and fish. Wetlands offer recreational opportunities, aesthetic benefits, and commercial fishing benefits. Extremely biologically productive, they serve as spawning and nesting habitat for many of Michigan’s fish, wildlife, migratory birds and waterfowl. During high water periods, marsh and wetland vegetation anchor sandy shorelines to protect them from the damaging effects of the waves or ice of Great Lakes.
How the Coastal Wetlands are changing
Coastal wetlands are constantly changing, and respond to changes in water levels, weather patterns, and impacts on the surrounding landscape every year. The Great Lakes water levels fluctuate over time as part of a natural cycle. Coastal wetlands can respond in many ways to changes in water levels. Many coastal wetlands transform into submerged or sparsely vegetated aquatic beds during higher water levels. Many coastal wetlands transform into densely vegetated, emergent communities and wet meadows during periods of lower water. These communities often cover large areas of exposed lake bottomlands.
Threats to Coastal Wetlands
Climate change, invasive species (shoreline hardening), development, runoff, and other factors pose threats to coastal wetlands. Despite their adaptability, coastal wetlands continue to be affected by these factors.
Loss of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
Michigan is home to more than 275,000 acres in Great Lakes coastal wetlands, but has lost approximately half of the coastal wetlands that existed before European settlement. In some areas, the losses can reach 90%.
Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program
The Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program (CWMP) began in 2011 and is continuing a successful basinwide Great Lakes coastal wetland monitoring program using a scientifically-validated sampling design for plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, birds and water quality. The CWMP is a long-standing partnership of 15 organizations in the Great Lakes basin. It is led by Central Michigan University, and funded by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The field crews from the research organisations sample approximately 1,000 coastal wetlands every five years. This provides a significant and continuous data set for coastal wetland over a long period of time. This project’s results are used to plan and evaluate wetland restoration projects in the Great Lakes region.
Caption:Delta County, Lake Michigan. This is where black tern nest monitoring occurs. Joe Kaplan, Common Coast Research, is shown. (Photo courtesy DNR.
