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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

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The majority of our ecological research is conducted in support of Department of the Interior issues and lands in the Upper Midwest. The Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) links its research closely with other U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science centers to broadly address ecological and population concerns throughout the Nation's heartland.

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William H. Gingerich Recognized by the Food and Drug Administration

Researchers Recognized for Contributions to Approval of 35% PEROX-AID®

During a recent awards ceremony, Dave Lovetro, Eka Chemicals representative, recognized the aquaculture drug team for their dedication and efforts towards the approval of 35% PEROX-AID®, the first “broad-use”, waterborne, aquaculture drug approved in more than 20 years. USGS representatives, Dr. Bob Szaro, Chief Scientist for Biology, and Doug Beard, Fisheries, Aquatic and Endangered Resources Program Coordinator, were present to congratulate the researchers. The photo shows the researchers who generated critical data to satisfy the drug approval along with the USGS representatives.

Scientists Recognized in La Crosse, Wis.; First New Waterborne Aquaculture Drug in 20 Years Approved

Researchers Recognized for Contributions to Approval of 35% PEROX-AID®

The Geospatial Sciences Team has published 3 new GIS tools for ArcMap 9.2: Percent Edge Tool, Adjacency For WinBUGS Tool, and Split By Attribute Tool. Installation files and instructions are located on each tool’s information page.

3 new GIS toolsThe Percent Edge Tool creates an edge file containing area, compactness, perimeter, shared edge lengths with adjacent polygons, and percentage of shared edge with adjacent polygons.This information can then be summarized into a pivot table and queried. Example: where are all of the large, compact, woody wetland polygons that share > 30% of their edge with emergent herbaceous wetlands?

The Adjacency For WinBUGS Tool iteratively processes polygons within a selected layer and creates a text file of polygonal adjacency where each polygon is identified by a unique Adj_ID value. The output of this tool is used in WinBUGS (MRC Biostatistics Unit Cambridge) by the car.normal, car.l1, and mv.car conditional autoregressive distributions.

The Split By Attribute Tool takes a single spatial dataset and splits it into many component spatial datasets based on the unique values of a chosen attribute field. 

   
updated Geospatial and Decision Support Projects

LINKA Decision Support System (DSS) can be defined as, "A spatially based computer application or data that assists a researcher or manager in making decisions."

LINK is the latest product from a series of DSS that uses species habitat matrices to model potential species habitat and habitat diversity.

GIS Data for Pool 5 Drawdown Project Pool 5 GIS dataIn an effort to enhance the production of aquatic vegetation and improve fish and wildlife habitat, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers conducted a water level reduction on Navigation Pool 5 in summer 2005 and has planned a second drawdown for summer 2006.

The drawdowns target a reduction of water levels by 1.5 ft. at Lock and Dam 5 (L&D 5) during the growing season. The GIS data depicting substrate exposed with the 2005 drawdown, along with aerial photography, are served for use by resource managers and planners.

   
Web Site: The Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative at UMESC

Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative web sitePopulations of amphibians have been declining around the world. The U.S. Geological Survey is working to understand the extent and causes of such declines through the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative.
USGS Fact Sheet: Taking the Pulse of a River System: First 20 Years Long Term Resource Monitoring on the Upper Mississippi River System

LTRMP: Taking the Pulse of a River SystemThe Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) for the Upper Mississippi River System is the Nation’s first large-scale effort to determine the status and trends of these natural components of a large river. The mission of the LTRMP is to provide decision-makers with information to help them balance the multiple uses of the Mississippi River.

   
Web Site: Tracking Common Loon Migrations on the Web

Loon MigrationsBy implanting radio transmitters in adult loons, scientists are able to gain important information about migration routes, staging areas, and locations of wintering grounds.
Online Tool: Water Quality Graphical Browser

graph outputThe Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) Water Quality Graphical Browser is an online tool designed to allow quick access to simple data sets from fixed water quality testing sites on the Upper Mississippi River System.
   
Web Site: Maps, Models, and Tools for Bird Conservation Planning

Maps, Models, and Tools for Bird Conservation PlanningScientists at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center have developed statistical models for predicting and mapping habitat associations across entire ecoregions for species at risk like the cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea).
Online Report: Summary of Monitoring Findings for Fiscal Year 2004 Long Term Resource Monitoring Program of the Upper Mississippi River System

 Summary of Monitoring Findings for Fiscal Year 2004This report summarizes monitoring activities of the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program in 2004. Selected, notable findings pertaining to annual results for hydrology, land cover/land use, water quality, fish, vegetation, and macroinvertebrates are summarized and interpreted.
   
Web Site: Freshwater Mussels of the Upper Mississippi River System

Freshwater Mussels of the Upper Mississippi River System Nearly 300 species of mussels inhabit freshwater rivers, streams, and lakes in North America. Unfortunately, freshwater mussels are now one of the most imperiled groups of animals. In North America, it is estimated that 43% of the 300 species of freshwater mussels are in danger of extinction.
USGS Fact Sheet: Strategic Directions for Invasive Species Research at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Research on invasive species at the UMESC will focus on preventing further introductions, examining early detection and monitoring methods, determining the effects of established invaders, and the management and control of invasive species in this region.
   
Long Term Resource Monitoring Program

The Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center administers the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) of the Environmental Management Program. The LTRMP is the Nation's largest river monitoring program with six remote state-operated field stations.

Data and Sampling Information Land Cover ViewerRelated LTRMP Information

Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
2630 Fanta Reed Road
La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603
Phone: (608) 783-6451


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Page Last Modified: April 30, 2008

 
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