Tracking, Assessment and Monitoring Wetlands

Wisconsin has lost about half its wetlands in the last two centuries. Today citizens want to prevent the destruction of wetlands, and restore wetlands where possible. Many also are concerned with the quality of our remaining wetlands and those we restore. Do they have diverse plant communities that provide good habitat for animals? Are they free of toxins and pollutants? Can they maintain their quality and function over time?

Planners need to look at the big picture when making decisions about wetlands. What role do wetlands play in our watersheds and landscape for fish and wildlife habitat, flood storage and water quality protection? How can we plan for growth so that we retain the value of the wetlands we have left? How and where can we restore wetlands to get the "biggest bang for the buck?"

Monitoring wetlands to assess their biological health and the services they provide can help to answer some of these important questions and provide information for good decision-making.

• Wetland Activity Tracking - general picture of what is taking place in Wisconsin´s wetlands. We´ve taken the basic step of tracking activities that affect wetlands, both positively and negatively.
• Assessment Methods/Tools - access to some of the assessment methodologies that the DNR and others have developed to assess the health of wetlands and the services they provide.
• Reports & Maps - read the reports on assessment projects that DNR and partners have developed to date.
• Monitoring Programs for Volunteers - resource for Wisconsin citizens who want to join volunteer wetland monitoring programs.

Contact Information

For more information on wetland monitoring and assessment, please contact:

Tom Bernthal
(608) 266-3033