Old Woman Creek Reserve is one of two of the Great Lakes reserves within the NERRS (National Estuarine Research Reserve System). In an evaluation of all 29 reserves, the NERRS Climate Sensitivity Index concluded that Old Woman Creek Reserve rates highest in Overall Ecological Stress. The reserve is host to a number of wildlife species that serve as indicators of ecosystem health (e.g. salamanders, great blue herons), as well as species that are a keystone to ecological functioning (e.g. bald eagles, muskrats). Phenology-based species monitoring at Old Woman Creek Reserve is meant to develop an understanding of how climate trends are affecting species that are indicators of or keystone to ecological success within the estuary, ultimately to inform Great Lakes coastal wetland management practices regarding wildlife.

Fundamental Objective: Understand which species within Old Woman Creek Reserve are most impacted by climate factors, and use these data to inform management decisions that ultimately support sensitive species.

Means Objective: Record species activity and presence in correlation with climate data to help increase, maintain & protect sensitive species habitat. less ↑