North Central Research Station

Project
 Status

Problem 1:
Quantifying riparian area extent, structure, and benefits

Project Question

Location

NC Station Contact

Quantifying riparian areas in the North Central region

How much of the regional landscape is riparian?  How do riparian areas contribute, to social benefits?  What is the relationship between riparian area health and various measures of social benefit

Regional 

Brian Palik 

Revitalizing the Rustbelt: Calumet Area Research and Assessment

What are the likely ecologic and social results of different rehabilitation scenarios? What are the benefits of nature experiences in Calumet?  What bio and phytoremediation techniques are useful in restoring degraded urban riparian areas?

Chicago

LynneWestphal

 Herb Schroeder

Analyzing linkages in Itasca County Lakes

Are human perceptions of ecosystem health related to biophysical measures of health?

N. Minn.

Pam Jakes

Non-timber forest products (ntfp) in riparian zones

What ntfp occur in riparian zones?  How do we determine quantity and quality of ntfp in rz's? Can we manage for ntfp sustainably in rz's?

Plant to  region

John Zasada

Reproductive biology/ecology of plants in riparian zones

What are the common modes of reproduction for important riparian species?  How can riparian areas be managed to fully utilize the potential for natural reproduction?

Plant to landscapes

John Zasada

Developing an indexing framework to profile lake/riparian area development in northern MN

Can we identify ecological and social characteristics that determine development potential?  Can we use those characteristics to develop and map an index of development pressure?

N. Minn.

Pam Jakes

Using hydrogeomorphic processes to delineate riparian areas in the Little Carp  (MI) and Popple River (WI) watersheds.

Can riparian areas be delineated ecologically based on hydrogeomorphic properties?

Western U.P., N. Wisc.

Brian Palik 

Second home owners and residents in the Hayward Lakes

What are the patterns of attachment, recreational use, shoreline ownership, and resource management concerns among permanent and seasonal residents in the Hayward Lakes area?  What effects do urban or rural residence, residence history, and urban vs. rural setting preference have on attitudes toward land management?

N. WI.

Sue Stewart

Chicago Rivers: People and the River

What are the current uses, perceptions, and benefits derived from the Chicago River corridor? What changes are needed to enhance the corridor for recreation and nature experience?

Regional

Paul Gobster 

LynneWestphal

É

Stakeholder of riparian ecosystem health in the Popple River Watershed., WI. 

How do landowners describe/define ecosystem health, and to what extent do they understand the impacts of their land use on riparian area health?

Watershed

Pam Jakes 

P

Negotiating nature in an Urban Park Setting

How can managers and policy makers balance different uses of urban park riparian landscapes to provide maximum benefits from these landscapes?

Chicago

Paul Gobster 

Sue Barro

P

Enhance the management of Chicago's lakefront/wetlands for migratory Birds

How to manage urban riparian landscapes for bird habitat?

Chicago

John Dwyer 

P

Urban proximate second home use and amenity migration in Walworth County, WI.

What are the lake and forest preference and the recreational uses of urban-proximate second homes? How do these differ from other second homeowners? What roles do setting preferences and attitudes toward urban and rural areas play in second home location choices?

N. WI

Sue Stewart 

P

Developing management guidelines for natural areas in urban parks; integrating ecological restoration in to an urban context; understanding diverse values in the rehabilitation and management of historic designed park landscapes

This suite of studies develops management and policy guidelines to enhance the various benefits derived from recreation in large, regional parks with significant riparian sections.

Chicago

John Dwyer 

P

Defining stream valley segments in the National Forests of Wisconsin

Can chemical, physical, and biological stream data be used to define and classify valley segments?

N.WI

Clay Edwards 

Project
Status

Problem 2:
Impacts to riparian areas: factors affecting function and benefits

Project Question

Location

NC Station Contact

P

Revitalizing the Rustbelt: Calumet Area Research and Assessment

What are the ecologic and social results of different rehabilitation scenarios? What are the benefits of nature experiences in Calumet?  What bio and phytoremediation techniques are useful in degraded urban riparian areas?

Chicago

LynneWestphal

Herb Schroeder

P

Testing the efficacy of buffers for protecting seasonal ponds, amphibians, and songbirds in northern MN forests

How do residual trees near seasonal ponds mitigate negative effects of forest harvest?

N. Minn. 

Brian Palik 

P

Minnesota Riparian Management Experiment 

What is the efficacy of various harvesting and management guidelines at protecting riparian areas and stream ecosystems?

N. Minn.

Brian Palik

P

Habitat benefits of riparian buffers in agricultural landscapes in Missouri.

How does the configuration of forested riparian zones and planted buffer strips affect birds, reptiles, and amphibians?

N. MO 

Frank Thompson 

P

Riparian ecosystem assessment and management project (REAM).  

What is the impact of timber harvest in riparian forests in north Missouri?  Focus is on veg, forest birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

S. MO 

Frank Thompson 

P

Impacts of land use on channel morphology and stream habitat in northern Minnesota. 

Is stream physical condition explained by land use patterns or geology?  

N. Minn. 

Sandy Verry 

É

Chicago Rivers: People and the River

What are the current uses, perceptions, and benefits of the Chicago River corridor? What changes will enhance the corridor for recreational use and nature experience?

Regional

Paul Gobster

LynneWestphal

(4902)

P

Assessment of physical and social implications of oxidized and reduced zones in soils of urban forests undergoing development.

What is the influence of riparian floodplain characteristics on the health of an urbanizing forest? How does the riparian nature of the forested landscape effect benefits to residents? To what extent do these residents understand the unique needs of these forests?

Chicago

John Dwyer

P

Effects of riparian development on habitat structure in north temperate lakes.

How does lakeshore development inpact aquatic habitat elements, such as coarse woody debris and emergent vegetation?

N. WI

Clay Edwards 

P

The influence of humans on colonization and extirpation processes in community assembly in small north temperate lakes.

Can models be developed to predict fish species richness as a function of landscape and human influences?

N. WI

Clay Edwards

É

Distribution of in-lake coarse woody debris within old-growth and second-growth forest settings.

Are there distinct differences in the distribution of CWD in lakes surrounded by old-growth and second-growth forest?

N. WI

Clay Edwards

Project Status

Problem 3:
Rehabilitating riparian areas: approaches and technologies

Project Question

Location

NC Station Contact

P

Revitalizing the Rustbelt: Calumet Area Research and Assessment

What are the ecologic and social results of different rehabilitation scenarios? What are the benefits of nature experiences in Calumet?  What bio and phytoremediation techniques are useful in degraded urban riparian areas?

Chicago

LynneWestphal

Herb Schroeder

Chicago Rivers: People and the River

What are the current uses, perceptions, and benefits derived from the Chicago River corridor? What changes need to be made to enhance the corridor for recreational use and nature experience?

Regional

Paul Gobster

Lynne Westphal

P

Negotiating Nature in an Urban Park Setting

How can managers and policy makers balance different uses of urban park riparian landscapes to provide maximum benefits from these landscapes?

Chicago

Paul Gobster 

Sue Barro

P

Developing Management guidelines for Natural Areas in Urban Parks; Integrating Ecological Restoration in to an Urban Context; Understanding Diverse Values in the Rehabilitation and Management of Historic Designed Park Landscapes.

This suite of studies develops management and policy guidelines to enhance the various benefits derived from recreation in large, regional parks with significant riparian sections.

Chicago

John Dwyer

P

Enhance the management of Chicago's Lakefront/Wetlands for Migratory Birds

How to manage urban riparian landscapes for bird habitat?

Chicago

John Dwyer

P

Afforestation of bottomland forests in Missouri 

What planting methods will rapidly establish a mast producing forest in bottomland agricultural fields, and what is the early response by wildlife? 

MO

Dan Dey 

P

Testing of willow clones for biomass production and stream-side stabilization 

Which existing clones of willow are best for biomass production and streamside stabilization?

N. WI

P

Phytoremediation of stream-side landfills

Are poplar and willow clones effective for hydrologic and contaminant uptake along streamside landfills?

Chicago

P

Stabilization of reservoir shorelines 

What willow clones are best for stabilizing reservoir shorelines that are subject to wind and water erosion?

N. WI

Mark Kubiske

P

Willow breeding program for biomass production and environmental benefits in riparian areas and uplands in the northeastern United States 

What willow hybrids perform best for biomass production and environmental benefits?

NE US and Canada

P

Carbon sequestration in riparian zones

What is the soil C content of alternative crop systems in riparian areas?

S. Minn.

P

Stream-crossing designs for riparian restoration in Itasca Co., MN.

How can we best evaluate and design stream crossings for fish migration and minimizing entry of road sand to channels?

N. Minn.

Sandy Verry