Lake Erie LaMP Indicators
Framework for Indicator Development
ƒ Lake Erie LaMP definition of an indicator:
A measurable feature that identifies the current state of the ecosystem
relative to the desired state of the ecosystem, as described by the Lake
Erie Vision and Ecosystem Management Objectives.
ƒ Indicators to be applied by habitat type:
Terrestrial
Tributaries
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
ƒ Wherever possible, build upon work that has already been done
Lake Erie Indicators Matrix
Indicator Category
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES:
Natural Lands
Nutrients
Chemical Contamination
LEMN Habitat Zones
Biological Contamination
Non-native Invasive Species
Resource Use and Disturbance
PROCESSES:
Flow Disruption
Energy Disruption
Economic Disruption
STATE INDICATORS:
Plant Cover
Food Web Base
Lower Food Web (benthic inverts)
Lower Food Web (pelagic)
Middle Food Web (fish)
Upper Food Web (fish)
Upper Food Web (herps/birds)
Indicator Categories
Offshore
Lake Erie Indicators Matrix
Indicator Category
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES:
Natural Lands
Nutrients
Chemical Contamination
Biological Contamination
Non-native Invasive Species
Resource Use and Disturbance
PROCESSES:
Flow Disruption
Energy Disruption
Economic Disruption
STATE INDICATORS:
Plant Cover
Food Web Base
Lower Food Web (benthic inverts)
Lower Food Web (pelagic)
Middle Food Web (fish)
Upper Food Web (fish)
Upper Food Web (herps/birds)
Measuring progress towards achieving the five
Lake Erie ecosystem management objectives
Ecosystem Management Objectives
ƒ The Lake Erie LaMP developed a Vision for the Lake Erie basin
ecosystem based upon the preferred ecosystem alternative
A Lake Erie Basin Ecosystem …
Where all people, recognizing the fundamental links among the health of the ecosystem,
their individual actions, and their economic and physical well-being, work to minimize the
human impact in the Lake Erie basin and beyond;
Where natural resources are protected from known, preventable threats;
Where native biodiversity and the health and function of natural communities are protected
and restored to the greatest extent that is feasible;
Where natural resources are managed to ensure that the integrity of existing communities is
maintained or improved;
Where human-modified landscapes provide functions that approximate natural ecosystem
process;
Where land and water are managed such that water flow regimes and the associated
amount of materials transported mimic natural cycles; and
Where environmental health continually improved due to virtual elimination of toxic
contaminants and remedial actions at formerly degraded and/or contaminated sites.
Ecosystem Management Objectives
ƒ The Lake Erie LaMP developed a Vision for the Lake Erie basin
ecosystem based upon the preferred ecosystem alternative
ƒ Ecosystem Management Objectives provide targets for achieving the
Lake Erie vision
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
Land Use
Nutrients
Chemical and Biological Contamination
Resource Use and Disturbance
Non-native Species
Ecosystem Management Objectives
ƒ Ecosystem Management Objectives provide targets for achieving the
vision
¾ Land Use
Land use activities result in gains in the quantity and quality of natural
habitat in order to support the maximum amount of native biodiversity
and community integrity that can be achieved and be sustained for the
benefit of future generations.
¾
¾
¾
¾
Nutrients
Chemical and Biological Contamination
Resource Use and Disturbance
Non-native Species
Ecosystem Management Objectives
ƒ Ecosystem Management Objectives provide targets for achieving the
vision
¾ Land Use
¾ Nutrients
Nutrient inputs from both point and non-point sources are managed to
ensure that ambient concentrations are within bounds of sustainable
watershed management and consistent with the Lake Erie Vision.
¾ Chemical and Biological Contamination
¾ Resource Use and Disturbance
¾ Non-native Species
Ecosystem Management Objectives
ƒ Ecosystem Management Objectives provide targets for achieving the
vision
¾ Land Use
¾ Nutrients
¾ Chemical and Biological Contamination
Toxic chemical and biological contaminant concentrations within the
basin must be virtually eliminated.
¾ Resource Use and Disturbance
¾ Non-native Species
Ecosystem Management Objectives
ƒ Ecosystem Management Objectives provide targets for achieving the
vision
¾ Land Use
¾ Nutrients
¾ Chemical and Biological Contamination
¾ Resource Use and Disturbance
Natural resource use (e.g. commercial and sport fishing, hunting,
trapping, logging, water withdrawal) and disturbance by human
presence or activity be managed to ensure that the integrity of existing
healthy ecological communities be maintained and/or improved, and
provide benefits to consumers.
¾ Non-native Species
Ecosystem Management Objectives
ƒ Ecosystem Management Objectives provide targets for achieving the
vision
¾
¾
¾
¾
Land Use
Nutrients
Chemical and Biological Contamination
Resource Use and Disturbance
¾ Non-native Species
Non-native invasive species should be prevented from colonizing the
Lake Erie ecosystem. Existing non-native invasive species should be
controlled and reduced where feasible and consistent with other
objectives.
The Vision Matrix
Natural Lands
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Protect and restore
terrestrial habitats.
Reduce the extent of
imperviousness in the
Lake Erie basin.
Increase extent of
natural lands through
changes in land use that
represent a return to
more natural landforms.
Create and maintain
habitat corridors for
wildlife.
Protect and restore
natural stream &
associated watershed
function. Ensure that
flow regimes and
associated amounts of
materials transported
mimic the natural cycle.
Use BMPs whenever
possible to maintain and
restore more natural
conditions.
Increase total basin
coastal wetland area.
Protect and restore
coastal wetland area
and function.
Protect and restore
natural nearshore
function. If shoreline
protection is needed,
ensure that appropriate
design is employed to
mimic natural current
and material transport.
Adopt land use practices
throughout the
watershed to minimize
impacts on offshore
waters and habitat.
Major reductions in
loading of nutrients from
land use.
Major reductions in
phosphorus and
sediment loadings from
non-point sources and
moderate reductions
from sewage treatment
plants.
Major reductions in
nutrient and sediment
loadings.
Major reductions in
nutrient concentrations
and in phosphorus and
sediment loadings.
Major reduction in
nutrient concentrations.
Reduce chemical
loading from
anthropogenic land uses
to levels that do not
cause harm to humans,
fish or wildlife.
Mitigation of chemically
contaminated sediments
and discharges (point
and non point) to Lake
Erie to levels that do not
cause harm to humans,
fish or wildlife.
Mitigation of chemically
contaminated sediments
in coastal wetlands to
levels that do not cause
harm to humans, fish or
wildlife.
Mitigation of chemically
contaminated sediments
in nearshore areas to
levels that do not cause
harm to humans, fish or
wildlife.
Mitigation of
contaminated sediments
offshore to levels that do
not cause harm to
humans, fish or wildlife.
Nutrients
Chemical
Contamination
The Vision Matrix (cont’d)
Biological
Contamination
Resource Use
and
Disturbance
NonNon-Native
Invasive
Species
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Virtual elimination of
biological toxins within
the basin.and/or their
causes and sources?
Virtual elimination of
biological toxins within
the basin.and/or their
causes and sources?
Virtual elimination of
biological toxins within
the basin.and/or their
causes and sources?
Virtual elimination of
biological toxins within
the basin.and/or their
causes and sources?
Virtual elimination of
biological toxins within
the basin.and/or their
causes and sources?
Sustainable resource
use. Examples include:
mining, hunting, forestry,
aggregate mining,
trapping, minimizing
disturbances caused by
agricultural and urban
land use.
Sustainable resource
use. Examples include:
water taking, sport
fishing.
Sustainable resource
use. Examples include:
hunting, fishing, peat
mining.
Sustainable resource
use. Examples include:
sportfishing, commercial
fishing, oil and gas
extraction, wind power.
Sustainable resource
use. Examples include
sportfishing, commercial
fishing, oil and gas
extraction, wind power.
No new introductions of
non-native species.
Existing non-native
species managed as
appropriate.
No new introductions of
non-native species.
Existing non-native
species managed as
appropriate.
No new introductions of
non-native species.
Existing non-native
species managed as
appropriate.
No new introductions of
non-native species.
Existing non-native
species managed as
appropriate.
No new introductions of
non-native species.
Existing non-native
species managed as
appropriate.
Lake Erie Indicators Matrix
Indicator
Habitat Class
Category
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Natural Lands
Nutrients
Chemical
Contamination
Biological
Indicator
Tactical Objective
Contamination
Category
(LE LaMP 2004)
Non-Native
Invasive Species
Land use activities
Natural
resultUse
in gains in the
Lands Resource
and Disturbance
quantity and quality of
natural habitat in
order to support the
maximum amount of
native biodiversity
and community
integrity that can be
achieved and be
sustained for the
benefit of future
generations.
Habitat Class
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal
Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Protect and restore
terrestrial habitats.
Reduce the extent of
imperviousness in
the Lake Erie basin.
Increase extent of
natural lands through
changes in land use
that represent a
return to more
natural landforms.
Create and maintain
habitat corridors for
wildlife.
Protect and restore
natural stream &
associated
watershed function.
Ensure that flow
regimes and
associated amounts
of materials
transported mimic
the natural cycle.
Use BMPs whenever
possible to maintain
and restore more
natural conditions.
Increase total basin
coastal wetland
area. Protect and
restore coastal
wetland area and
function.
Protect and restore
natural nearshore
function. If shoreline
protection is needed,
ensure that
appropriate design is
employed to mimic
natural current and
material transport.
Adopt land use
practices throughout
the watershed to
minimize impacts on
offshore waters and
habitat.
Lake Erie Indicators Matrix
Indicator
Habitat Class
Category
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Natural Lands
Nutrients
Chemical
Contamination
Biological
Indicator
Tactical Objective
Contamination
Category
(LE LaMP 2004)
Non-Native
Invasive Species
Land use activities
Natural
resultUse
in gains in the
Lands Resource
and Disturbance
quantity and quality of
natural habitat in
order to support the
maximum amount of
native biodiversity
and community
integrity that can be
achieved and be
sustained for the
benefit of future
generations.
Habitat Class
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal
Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Protect and restore
terrestrial habitats.
Reduce the extent of
imperviousness in
the Lake Erie basin.
Increase extent of
natural lands through
changes in land use
that represent a
return to more
natural landforms.
Create and maintain
habitat corridors for
wildlife.
Protect and restore
natural stream &
associated
watershed function.
Ensure that flow
regimes and
associated amounts
of materials
transported mimic
the natural cycle.
Use BMPs whenever
possible to maintain
and restore more
natural conditions.
Increase total basin
coastal wetland
area. Protect and
restore coastal
wetland area and
function.
Protect and restore
natural nearshore
function. If shoreline
protection is needed,
ensure that
appropriate design is
employed to mimic
natural current and
material transport.
Adopt land use
practices throughout
the watershed to
minimize impacts on
offshore waters and
habitat.
Lake Erie Indicators Matrix
Indicator
Habitat Class
Category
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Natural Lands
% Imperviousness
% Natural lands
% Altered stream length
Sediment loading
Total area of cstl wetlands
Costal wetland IBI
% vegetated shoreline
Integrated measure
Nutrients
Chemical
Contamination
Biological
Indicator
Tactical Objective
Contamination
Category
(LE LaMP 2004)
Non-Native
Invasive Species
Land use activities
Natural
resultUse
in gains in the
Lands Resource
and Disturbance
quantity and quality of
natural habitat in
order to support the
maximum amount of
native biodiversity
and community
integrity that can be
achieved and be
sustained for the
benefit of future
generations.
Habitat Class
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal
Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Protect and restore
terrestrial habitats.
Reduce the extent of
imperviousness in
the Lake Erie basin.
Increase extent of
natural lands through
changes in land use
that represent a
return to more
natural landforms.
Create and maintain
habitat corridors for
wildlife.
Protect and restore
natural stream &
associated
watershed function.
Ensure that flow
regimes and
associated amounts
of materials
transported mimic
the natural cycle.
Use BMPs whenever
possible to maintain
and restore more
natural conditions.
Increase total basin
coastal wetland
area. Protect and
restore coastal
wetland area and
function.
Protect and restore
natural nearshore
function. If shoreline
protection is needed,
ensure that
appropriate design is
employed to mimic
natural current and
material transport.
Adopt land use
practices throughout
the watershed to
minimize impacts on
offshore waters and
habitat.
Lake Erie Indicators Matrix
Indicator
Habitat Class
Category
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Natural Lands
% Imperviousness
% Natural lands
% Altered stream length
Sediment loading
Total area of cstl wetlands
Costal wetland IBI
% vegetated shoreline
Integrated measure
Nutrients
GLEI Ag-Chem
TP, SRP, TN
TP, TN
TP, SRP, TN
DOC
TP, SRP, TN
DOC
Chemical
Contamination
Biological
Indicator
Tactical Objective
Contamination
Category
(LE LaMP 2004)
Non-Native
Invasive Species
Nutrient inputs from
Nutrients
Resource
Use and nonboth point
and Disturbance
point sources will be
managed to ensure
that ambient
concentrations are
within bounds of
sustainable
watershed
management and
consistent with the
Lake Erie Vision
Habitat Class
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal
Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Major reductions in
loading of nutrients
from land use.
Major reductions in
phosphorus and
sediment loadings
from non-point
sources and
moderate reductions
from sewage
treatment plants.
Major reductions in
nutrient and
sediment loadings
Major reductions in
nutrient
concentrations and in
phosphorus and
sediment loadings
Major reduction in
nutrient
concentrations
Indicator
Habitat Class
Category
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Natural Lands
▪ % natural lands
▪ % impermeable
surfaces
▪ GLEI land cover
▪ % altered stream
length
▪ Relative
TSS/sediment loads
▪ Altered hydraulic
flow?
▪ Total area of coastal
wetlands
▪ Coastal wetland IBI
suite
▪ % vegetated shoreline
▪ Integrated measure of
effects of land condition
▪ Model process results
and flow disruptions
Nutrients
▪ TP/TN production
(fertilizer, livestock,
population density)
▪ GLEI ag-chem
▪ Groundwater
contamination
▪ TP, SRP, TN
▪ TP, TN
▪ TP, SRP, TN
▪ DOC
▪ TP, SRP, TN
▪ DOC
Chemical
Contamination
▪ GLEI point-source
discharge indicator
▪ GLEI atmospheric
deposition indicator
▪ Groundwater
contamination
(persistent chemicals)
▪ GLEI ag-chem
indicator
▪ Sum of persistent and
non-persistent
chemicals in water and
substrate
▪ Benthos/mussel
contaminant levels
▪ Fish tissue
contaminant levels
▪ Biota tissue
contaminant
concentration
(snapping turtles,
mudpuppies, yoy fish)
▪ Fish tumours
▪ Offshore sediment
quality index (Marvin)
▪ Benthos/mussel
contaminant levels
▪ Fish tissue
contaminant levels
▪ Herring gull eggs
contaminants levels
▪ Offshore sediment
quality index (Marvin)
▪ Benthos/mussel
contaminant levels
▪ Fish tissue
contaminant levels
Biological
Contamination
▪ Introduced diseases
(incidence and extent)
▪ Beach E. coli levels
▪ Frequency/extent of
hazardous algal blooms
▪ Frequency/extent of
bird and fish kills
(botulism)
▪ Frequency/extent of
hazardous algal blooms
▪ Beach E. coli levels
▪ Frequency/extent of
bird and fish kills
(botulism)
▪ Frequency/extent of
hazardous algal blooms
▪ Frequency/extent of
bird and fish kills
(botulism)
▪ Frequency/extent of
hazardous algal blooms
Non-Native
Invasive
Species
▪ Non-native arrivals
▪ Non-native
domination
▪ Non-native arrivals
▪ Non-native
domination
▪ Non-native arrivals
▪ Non-native
domination
▪ Non-native arrivals
▪ Non-native
domination
▪ Dreissenid abundance
▪ Non-native arrivals
▪ Non-native
domination
▪ Dreissenid abundance
Resource Use
and Disturbance
▪ Footprint of
extractions
▪ GLEI population and
disturbance indicator
▪ Water taking
▪ Amount of water
treated and returned
▪ Total recreational
fishing effort
▪ Waterfowl hunting
▪ Trapping
▪ Disturbance indicator
(eg, % emergent cover)
▪ Walleye & yellow
perch
production:extraction
▪ Density of artificial
structures (e.g., wind
power, well heads,
pipelines, shipwrecks)
▪ Walleye & yellow
perch
production:extraction
▪ Density of artificial
structures (e.g., wind
power, well heads,
pipelines, shipwrecks)
Indicator Selection Criteria
Indicator Selection Criteria
1. Assessment period
2. Assessment season
3. Anticipatory
4. Appropriate geographical scale/responsiveness
5. Feasible cost/logistics
6. Standardized/harmonized methodology
7. Quantitative with boundaries, criteria, thresholds
8. Long-term relevance with commitment history
9. Responsive to current and future conditions
10. Easily understood results
11. Low or insignificant environmental impacts
Next Steps
ƒ Consultation with experts about the choice of indicators, targets and
endpoints, etc.
ƒ
Discussions of this workshop to inform nutrients indicators
(Breakout Session 2)
Indicator
Habitat Class
Category
Terrestrial
Streams
Coastal Wetlands
Nearshore
Offshore
Nutrients
▪ GLEI ag-chem
▪ Groundwater
contamination
▪ TP/TN production
(fertilizer, livestock,
population density)
▪ TP, SRP, TN
▪ TP, TN
▪ TP, SRP, TN
▪ DOC
▪ TP, SRP, TN
▪ DOC