Wisconsin Ephemeral Pond Project (WEPP)

1. Wisconsin Ephemeral Pond Project (WEPP) Spring 2010

2. Ephemeral ponds are depressional wetlands that temporarily hold water in the spring and early summer or after heavy rains. They are isolated, without a permanent inlet or outlet, and dry up often by mid to late summer. Ephemeral ponds are typically free of fish, which allows for the successful breeding of certain amphibians and invertebrates.

3. WEPP – CITIZEN MONITORING NETWORK WEPP Goals – Building a Foundation • Map ephemeral ponds in Wisconsin. • Study ephemeral ponds to learn more about the diversity of plants and animals that depend upon them. • Share the knowledge on the ecological value of ephemeral ponds. • Protect wetlands for future generations.

4. What WEPP Includes • Interpret air photos and use GIS to map what may be Ephemeral Ponds (done) • Ground-truth to verify mapped ponds & improve mapping methods • Collect baseline data to describe the different types of ponds • Establish selected EPs for long-term monitoring and reference sites

5. Concordia University of Wisc Mequon Nature Preserve Milwaukee Zoological Society Pringle Nature Center Friends of Richard Bong State Recreation Area Riveredge Nature Center Schlitz Audubon Nature Center Sheboygan River Basin Partnership Wehr Nature Center UW-Milwaukee UW-Parkside Natural Resource Technology, Inc. Great Lakes Ecological Services Friends of Cedarburg Bog Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation Ozaukee County Planning Dept Sheboygan County Planning Dept UW- Extension DNR SEWRPC Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society . . . more in 2010 WEPP Partners with WI’s Citizen-Based Water Monitoring Network http://watermonitoring.uwex.edu/level3/WIephemeral.htm

6. 2006 - 2009 Five Coastal Counties Milwaukee River Basin Towns of Eagle & LaGrange 2010 rest of Washington, Waukesha & Walworth Counties Pilot Mapping Area

7. Volunteer Training at PPEC

11. Mapping Potential Ephemeral Ponds

18. Fun in the Muck! Breanna Riedel www.augusta.k12.wi.us/ http://www.herpnet.net/Minnesota-/

19. 2006-09 Results • 8296 PEPs mapped • 753 monitored total (9.1%) • 594 by DNR + counties +TNC over 4 years (most in first two years) • 159 by CMN volunteers over 2 years • 2008 – 43; 2009 – 116

20. 2006-09 Results • 138 Not sure; 615 determined • 104 Professional Not Sure - 21% • 34 Volunteer Not Sure – 18% • Of the 615 Determined PEPs • 74% verified ephemeral ponds • 15% other wetlands types • 11% not wetland (eg rock pile,) • Monitors also documented 50 unmapped ephemeral ponds

21. Goals for 2010 • Complete Ground-truthing surveys for more PEPs • 2. Build Self-Sustaining Network

22. Ephemeral Pond Monitoring 2010 • Training Sessions on citizen monitoring protocol – same form as 2009 • Riveredge April 10, 2010, others to be announced • Continued 3-6 sites per team • Revisit “Not Sure” sites • Current Grant ends June 30, 2010, future funding is being sought

23. Thank You! ‘Where art thou ephemeral pond?’ Tom Bernthal, WDNR Gail Epping Overholt, UWEX Brick Fevold, WDNR Joanne Kline, WDNR Kris Stepenuck, UWEX Wisconsin Coastal Management Program University of Wisconsin Extension Partners & Volunteers

24. Presentation adapted from original created by Joanne Kline.