Скачать или смотреть SCORE THE SHORE: A VOLUNTEER LAKE MONITORING PROGRAM

SCORE THE SHORE: DEVELOPMENT OF A SHORELINE HABITAT ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL FOR A VOLUNTEER LAKE MONITORING PROGRAM

Lake shorelines provide critical habitat for innumerable species. An intact shoreline zone is also essential for slowing runoff, limiting erosion, and maintaining lake water quality. However, lake shorelines are threatened by human alterations. Residential and commercial development along lakeshores can lead to dramatic alterations of shoreline vegetation; habitat is lost, and water quality and biodiversity decline. Therefore, Michigan’s volunteer lake monitoring program has developed a new protocol, Score the Shore, that enables volunteers to assess and monitor the quality of their lake’s shoreline habitat. We began protocol development by researching existing shoreline habitat assessment techniques, and by gathering volunteer input on the feasibility and value of various approaches. We then developed a draft protocol for review and field testing with small teams of volunteers. The protocol was launched as a pilot during the 2015 field season, and became a permanent component of Michigan’s volunteer lake monitoring program in 2016. Data from these assessments will allow lake communities to identify high-quality shoreline areas for protection and opportunities for improvement and property owner education.

Jo A. Latimore (Primary Presenter/Author), Michigan State University, [email protected];


Paul J. Steen ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Huron River Watershed Council, [email protected]

Presented at the 2016 SFS Annual Meeting