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Southeast Wisconsin Ephemeral Ponds Citizen Monitoring Project
The purpose of this volunteer-based project is to train citizens to identify, inventory, and monitor the ecology of ephemeral ponds. Ephemeral ponds are ponds that are present only a portion of the year, drying up later in the summer but available as habitat for a variety of amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and wildlife during spring and early summer. The objective of the project is to collect data that will lead to a better understanding of the location and ecology of Wisconsin’s ephemeral pond habitats.
In 2006, as part of the Wisconsin Ephemeral Pond Project (WEPP), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission began intensive mapping to update the digital Wisconsin Wetland Inventory in southeast Wisconsin. Improved mapping methods, applied to recent high-resolution digital imagery, allow the new maps to identify previously unmapped wetlands including ephemeral ponds. WEPP began monitoring selected ephemeral ponds to characterize the variety of types, their ecological significance, and to develop guidelines for protection and restoration. This project builds on initial mapping efforts, involving citizens in the inventory and monitoring process.
This project is being piloted in 2008 in Southeastern Wisconsin's coastal counties. Adults in Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties are invited to participate. (Note: Riveredge Nature Center in Washington County is coordinating a partner effort. Learn more about the Riveredge project >>)
Ephemeral pond monitoring is conducted monthly beginning in March for approximately four months (or until the ponds dry up). Orientation sessions are being held in November and December 2007 and January 2008 at a variety of locations in the participating counties. For more information contact:
Contact:
Gail Epping Overholt
gail.overholt@ces.uwex.edu
414-290-2434
Citizens interested in ephemeral pond monitoring who live outside of the Southeast Wisconsin project area can contact:
Tom Bernthal
Thomas.Bernthal@wisconsin.gov
608-266-9993
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