National Park Service Grant for Assessing Natural Resource Conditions at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

The PI was the lead scientist on two Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (REMAP) projects that developed watershed indicators for the Northern Lakes and Forest ecoregion streams and Great Lakes nearshore coastal wetlands for the Great Lakes and connecting channels. The PI coauthored book entitled, “Coastal Wetlands of the Laurentian Great Lakes: Health, Habitat, and Indicators”, investigated ecological indicators for fish, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic plants. In addition, the PI has developed indicators of ecological health for fish, macroinvertebrate, and aquatic plant assemblages for southern Lake Michigan, including the palustrine and riverine wetlands, and drowned river mouth coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes. The PI research on ecological indicators has included the methodology, development, and application of indicators; monitoring and assessment of status and condition; and evaluation of biological signature response patterns of aquatic organisms to specific contaminant stressors. The PI has monitored and assessed the status and condition of the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern since 1985. The PI has compiled contaminants information and investigated the Grand Calumet River watershed and its fish and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages and restoration potential. The PI’s personal research has included studies of the physical and chemical limnology of lakes and ponds on the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, the survey of over 500 lake segments in surrounding watersheds of northern Indiana, and the PI participated in studies of the Grand Marsh and streams draining these areas. The PI studied Dunes Creek, Kemper Ditch, Kintzel and Black Ditch. The PI has conducted extensive research in Miller Woods including the vernal ponds, pannes, and palustrine wetlands.

The PI’s research has focused on freshwater fish, including the impact of non-indigenous species. The PI is the first to document the invasion of the ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) in Duluth Harbor in western Lake Superior, white perch (Morone americana) in southern Lake Michigan, rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) in the Grand Calumet River. The PI’s research on the nearshore fish assemblages of Lake Michigan includes beach surveys from 22 locations along southern Lake Michigan including 15 segments situated in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.