Wisconsin Ephemeral Pond Wisconsin Ephemeral Pond Project (WEPP)Project (WEPP)

Spring 2010Spring 2010

Ephemeral ponds are depressional wetlands that Ephemeral ponds are depressional wetlands that temporarily hold water in the spring and early summer temporarily hold water in the spring and early summer or after heavy rains. or after heavy rains.

They are isolated, without a permanent inlet or outlet, They are isolated, without a permanent inlet or outlet, and dry up often by mid to late summer. and dry up often by mid to late summer.

Ephemeral ponds are typically free of fish, which Ephemeral ponds are typically free of fish, which allows for the successful breeding of certain allows for the successful breeding of certain amphibians and invertebrates. amphibians and invertebrates.

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.

WWEPPEPP – – CITIZEN MONITORING NETWORKCITIZEN MONITORING NETWORK

What WEPP Includes

1. Interpret air photos and use GIS to map what may be Ephemeral Ponds (done)

2. Ground-truth to verify mapped ponds & improve mapping methods

3. Collect baseline data to describe the different types of ponds

4. Establish selected EPs for long-term monitoring and reference sites

WEPP Partners with WI’s Citizen-Based Water Monitoring Network

• 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

http://watermonitoring.uwex.edu/level3/WIephemeral.htm

Pilot Mapping Area

• 2006 - 2009– Five Coastal Counties– Milwaukee River Basin– Towns of Eagle & LaGrange

•2010– rest of Washington, Waukesha & Walworth Counties

Volunteer Training at PPEC

Mapping Potential Ephemeral Ponds

Fun in the Muck!

http://www.herpnet.net/Minnesota-/

www.augusta.k12.wi.us/Breanna Riedel

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 years2008 – 43; 2009 – 116

138 Not sure; 615 determined• 104 Professional Not Sure - 21%• 34 Volunteer Not Sure – 18%

Of the 615 Determined PEPs74% verified ephemeral ponds15% other wetlands types11% not wetland (eg rock pile,)

Monitors also documented 50 unmapped ephemeral ponds

2006-09 Results

Goals for 2010

1.Complete Ground-truthing surveys for more PEPs

2. Build Self-Sustaining Network

• 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

Ephemeral Pond Monitoring 2010

Thank You!

‘Where art thou ephemeral

pond?’

Partners & Volunteers

Tom Bernthal, WDNRGail Epping Overholt, UWEX

Brick Fevold, WDNRJoanne Kline, WDNR

Kris Stepenuck, UWEXWisconsin Coastal Management Program

University of Wisconsin Extension

Presentation adapted from original created by Joanne Kline.