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Freshwater Estuaries Defined

Freshwater Estuary Projects:

National Estuarine Research Reserve

Needs Assessment Report

Green Bay's Coastal Wetlands

Wisconsin’s Freshwater Estuary Needs Assessment

While overall the Great Lakes have been well-studied over the past 100 years, freshwater estuaries, by comparison, have received relatively limited attention. Furthermore, a comprehensive statewide assessment and sharing of information related to Wisconsin’s freshwater estuary needs has been lacking.

The University of Wisconsin-Extension, with funding assistance from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, addressed this information gap by conducted an assessment of the applied research, management, and outreach needs for Wisconsin’s Great Lakes freshwater estuaries. By identifying applied research, management, and outreach needs concurrently, we are able to better understand both the needs within each focus area and the integration of freshwater estuary needs across the focus areas.

The assessment was a two-phased process. The first phase involved three coastal community working sessions that were held in Ashland, Green Bay, and Milwaukee. At each working session, attendees participated in facilitated small group processes to identify the top needs for Wisconsin’s freshwater estuaries. The data gathered from the three working sessions were analyzed and categorized into a list of comprehensive needs. The second phase used a survey to further refine, quantify, and prioritize the working session results. Participants in both the workings sessions and the survey included individuals with relevant expertise, experience, or interest in freshwater estuaries. 

The study allowed identification of freshwater estuary priority needs for each of the focus areas of applied research, management, and outreach, and the identification of “shared” needs across focus areas. Comprehensive priority needs for Wisconsin’s Great Lakes freshwater estuaries were identified, but separate needs relative to Lake Michigan freshwater estuaries and Lake Superior freshwater estuaries were also identified.

To see the results of the needs assessment or learn more about the next steps related to the needs assessment, please click one of the following links:

Research Needs (coming soon)
Management Needs (coming soon)
Outreach Needs (coming soon)
Shared Needs (coming soon)
Next Steps (coming soon)

To view or download the needs assessment report select a link below:

An Assessment of Wisconsin's Great Lakes Freshwater Estuary Applied Research, Management and Outreach Needs:

Executive Summary (255 Kb pdf)

Complete Report (1.2 Mb pdf)

	This assessment of Wisconsin's Great Lakes Freshwater Estuary was funded in part by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant # NA04NOS4190062

 

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