GREAT LAKES

Coastal wetlands are vital to the health of the Laurentian Great Lakes. As “kidneys of the landscape”, wetlands buffer the lakes from pollution by filtering and absorbing excess nutrients and pollutants.

Wetlands also provide essential habitat for native fish species, diverse invertebrates, rare and endangered plants, migratory birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.

Approximately 50% of Great Lakes wetlands have already been lost or severely degraded due to human activities.

Restoration of Great Lakes coastal wetlands is a binational priority but is hindered by insufficient data on water quality, wetland flora and fauna, and locations of healthy versus impaired wetlands.

With GLRI funding, administered by the USEPA, a binational consortium of 13 institutions comprise the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program.