How Much Is Enough A Framework For Guiding Habitat Rehabilitation In The Great Lakes Areas Of Concern

The framework presented in this document has been developed for teams and committees working to rehabilitate ecosystems in the 16 Areas of Concern (AOCs) across the Great Lakes basin. It is designed to guide the choice of restoration targets that relate to fish and wildlife habitat and populations, and provides a method to prioritize locations for wetland, riparian, and forested habitat rehabilitation projects across a watershed or other landscape unit. Separate sections cover habitat guidelines for wetlands, riparian areas, and forests; additional riparian parameters are given in an additional section. The appendices present results of habitat analyses for four specific AOCs, a framework for setting targets for fish community management targets, a list of forest bird species breeding in southern Ontario, and highlights from an assessment of forest bird community integrity.

The need for improved water resource protection, beginning with grassroots action, is urgent. The water we use depends on networks of wetlands, streams, and watersheds. Land-use activities, however, are changing these natural systems. Often these changes result in ecological damage, flooding, water pollution, and reduced water supply. We need a healthy environment that sustains our personal and community health; we also need vibrant and sustainable economic development that does not destroy the benefits we derive from nature. Our ability to accomplish both depends on how well we can "connect the drops." In this book, Karen Schneller-McDonald presents the basics of water resource protection: ecology and watershed science; techniques for evaluating environmental impacts; obstacles to protection and how to overcome them; and tips for protection strategies that maximize chances for success. Schneller-McDonald makes clear the important connections among natural cycles, watersheds, and ecosystems; the benefits they provide; and how specific development activities affect water quality and supply. The methods described in Connecting the Drops have broad application in diverse geographic locations. The environmental details may differ, but the methods are the same. For water resource managers and concerned citizens alike, Connecting the Drops helps readers interpret scientific information and contextualize news media reports and industry ads—ultimately offering "how to" guidance for developing resource protection strategies.

This publication summarizes the current state of knowledge about Great Lakes coastal wetlands based on the information presented at the Millennium Wetland Event symposium. Information on wetland development and classification, summaries of wetland vegetation communities, and details of the fish and wildlife species that use Great Lakes coastal wetlands as habitat are all found within the following pages. Wetland conservation initiatives and some of the challenges of performing wetland science in such a large and diverse environnment are also highlighted.