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

Spring 2009Spring 2009

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

• Create a process to map and document ephemeral ponds in Wisconsin.

• Study ephemeral ponds to identify the different kinds, and to learn more about the diversity of plants and animals that depend upon them.

• Share the knowledge on the ecological value of ephemeral ponds by …

• Engage citizen support in wetland conservation through monitoring partnerships that connect people to the importance and responsibility of protecting wetlands for future generations.

WWEPPEPP – – CITIZEN MONITORING NETWORKCITIZEN MONITORING NETWORK

What WEPP Includes

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

2. Ground-truth to verify map locations & 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 2009

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

Pilot Mapping Area

• 2007 - 2008– Five Coastal Counties– Milwaukee River Basin– Towns of Eagle & LaGrange

•2009– rest of Washington, Waukesha & Walworth Counties

Volunteer Training at PPEC

Mapping Potential Ephemeral Ponds

2008 Mapping Results

• 8900 PEPs mapped• 450 PEPs field checked (5%)• Mapping Accuracy: 43-67%

Fun in the Muck!

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

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

Goals for 2009

1.Complete Ground-truthing surveys for more PEPs

2. Build Self-Sustaining Network

• Training Session on Mapping and SWIMS Data Entry

• New, Streamlined protocol for citizen mapping surveys

• 3-6 sites per team• Revisit Last Year’s Sites – verify the “Not

Sures” • Easy Data Entry System (revised based on

input from last year’s citizens & partners)

Ephemeral Pond Monitoring 2009

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.