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Stewardship lessons from St. Pierre Wetland: From Multi-party Collaboration to the Use of Remote Sensing Data

The Stewardship Network

October 23, 2022 by

Thursday, February 2, 2023
1:25 pm - 2:15 pm
02/02/2023 13:25:00 02/02/2023 14:15:00 America/Detroit TSN Conference: Stewardship lessons from St. Pierre Wetland: From Multi-party Collaboration to the Use of Remote Sensing Data https://conference.stewardshipnetwork.org/session/2-1325-concurrent-session-1-room-b Virtual The Stewardship Network staff@stewardshipnetwork.org

Part one: To effectively care for ecosystems, we must involve all stakeholders. But when a piece of land is owned by an inherently complex institution, stakeholders are often unable to directly reach a land manager, and options for collaborative management can be limited. St. Pierre Wetland is a 130-acre research and education property in the Pinckney chain of lakes, owned by the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. It is closed to the public and bordered by two HOAs, a public access trail, and Bass Lake. The wetland contains high-quality prairie fen, but also spreading invasives, especially glossy buckthorn, Frangula alnus. In this case study, we share our efforts to create opportunities for lasting and meaningful wetland stewardship that can involve both the University and the property’s neighbors. We will explore how lessons learned from this process can serve as a general model for multi-party collaborative land management, especially with academic institutions.

 

Part 2: Remote sensing data, captured by satellite and airborne monitoring sensors, is a powerful source of existing information that can be used to raise site awareness and inform conservation and restoration. We demonstrate how spatial analysis and modeling tools facilitate ecological research and wetland restoration of St Pierre Wetland in Livingston County. We determine species composition by performing a supervised classification, using field data and spectral signatures captured through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR). We further delineate the property by conducting photo interpretation through the analysis of site-relevant leaf-off color infrared (CIR) imagery, LiDAR-derived Digital Elevation Model (DEM) indexes, and National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) imagery. We will address the accuracy of remote sensing in identifying invasive species and how the resulting information can be used to guide decision-making and invasive species mitigation practices.

Presenters

Liam Connolly
University of Michigan
Liam Connolly is a student at the University of Michigan’s School of Environment and Sustainability pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management and Environmental Justice. Liam aims to use his work with St. Pierre Wetland to inform future professional work engaging communities to develop and implement stewardship plans.
Rachel Kaufmann
University of Michigan
Rachel Kaufmann is a student at the University of Michigan’s School of Environment and Sustainability pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management. Experiences in teaching, farming, and trail work motivate her studies as well as her work to mobilize stakeholders around the stewardship of St. Pierre Wetland. Upon graduating, Rachel aims to engage public and private landowners to plan and implement strategies for restoring, monitoring, and managing Michigan’s natural communities.
Kimberly Heumann
University of Michigan
Kimberly Heumann is a student in the University of Michigan’s School of Environment and Sustainability pursuing a Master of Science in Behavior, Education, and Communication. Her work focuses on community engagement within sustainable ecosystem management. Kimberly is involved with the interdisciplinary Collaborative Adaptive Management of St. Pierre Wetland master’s project. Following graduation in April 2023, she is excited to pursue a career in creating connections between groups and individuals and enhancing education and engagement opportunities for the benefit of both people and the planet.
Sheila Schueller
University of Michigan
Sheila completed her MS and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan, and currently teaches graduate level courses in Ecology, Conservation, and Restoration at UM School for the Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). She has served as a consultant in adaptive management and currently pursues collaborative applied research on sustainable approaches to invasive species management and on the ways managed and built environments (from farms to yards) can support biodiversity and ecosystem function and services. In all endeavors, she seeks to integrate academic activities with the real-world data needs and challenges of natural resource planners and managers.
Laura Gumpper
University of Michigan
Laura Gumpper is a Master’s student at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability with a focus on Conservation Ecology, Ecosystem Management, and Geospatial Data Science. She worked as an engineering professional for several years after earning her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University and pursued advanced education so that she could transition into an environmental profession. Having grown up in the Metro Detroit area, Laura is passionate about environmental stewardship in Southeast Michigan and currently serves this community through her Master’s Capstone project focused on wetland restoration and as a Jr. Restoration Ecologist/Environmental Consultant for Natural Community Services. She has worked on a variety of projects aimed at restoring the biological function and beauty of Metro Detroit ecosystems, natural resources, and green infrastructure, and plans to continue performing this type of work upon graduation in 2023.
Alice Colville
University of Michigan
Alice Colville is a Master's student at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability, pursuing a degree in Geospatial Data Science. She has expertise in GIS, Remote Sensing, Natural Resource Management, and Coastal Ecology. Alice’s desire to deeply understand her surrounding environment began at Texas A&M University, where she earned a BS in Ocean and Coastal Resources. She’s interested in how the use of geospatial applications can demonstrate the interconnections between Earth's systems, anthropogenic forces, and climate change. However, of all Earth's systems, wetlands are where her heart persists. As a GIS Intern with Ducks Unlimited she is encouraged to explore her interests further in wetland conservation and environmental stewardship. She intends to pursue a career restoring and protecting coastal ecosystems where she may utilize and translate her knowledge of freshwater and marine environments using GIS and Remote Sensing applications.

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