OpportunityTitle: Evaluate Reference Conditions for Nearshore Sand Habitats of Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes NL
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: This is a &quot;Notice of Intent&quot; of a single source task agreement award to the Indiana University, Bloomington, IN under the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The two PI&apos;s are uniquely qualified to complete a study of physical and biological reference sand quality of the Lake Michigan nearshore along the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. One PI has extensive work with developing reference conditions coupled with his research on fish assemblages is based on over 20 years of research and monitoring experience in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and southern Lake Michigan nearshore. The other PI has over 30 years experience studying coastal geology or Lake Michigan and eolian processes.
Description: The nourishment of nearshore habitats along Lake Michigan requires the development of quantitative criteria for measurement of soil and sediment quality for restoration of native biological diversity. Beach habitats are important for aquatic life and are integral to providing proper spawning habitats and nursery conditions for early life stages. Several protocols have been developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1994); however, these methods are developed to determine the suitability of substrates for nourishment rather than advocating natural sediment grain sizes that would restore the natural aquatic and nearshore habitats promoting sustainable native biological diversity. The current study builds from the characterization protocols developed by EPA and the USACE by providing a linkage between beach nourishment primary functions and definition of reference quality to promote sustainable native biological diversity. In order to effectively plan for beach nourishment, substrate characteristics, sediment chemistry and toxicity, and the proper substrate grain size, compaction, porosity, and nutrient composition needs to be determined for offshore and inshore habitats. In addition, fish assemblages will be surveyed over spring (March-June), summer (June &#150;September) and fall (September-December) periods. This information will be used to evaluate native fish assemblage use of nearshore habitats along the national lakeshore, and will contribute to the restoration of the native fish biodiversity along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. This project is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Help Desk
GrantorContactText: Tonya Bradley &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 402-661-1656