How do we know if we are making progress?  Together with Blue Accounting partners, the Great Lakes Coastal Assembly is working to identify and track specific metrics that measure how well we are advancing toward reaching our objectives.

At this time, we have identifed one metric each for Goal 1 and Goal 2.  Click below to learn more.

Black Tern on nest.

Goal 1: Sustainable assemblages of priority species
Updated on: February 18 2020

If wildlife are thriving, then it follows that their homes must be in good shape. Healthy coastal wetlands support many kinds of plants and animals.  One way to track progress towards healthy wetlands is to look at wildlife that live there, especially those that can't survive anywhere else. 

The Great Lakes Coastal Assembly is monitoring the condition of coastal wetlands around the Great Lakes using datasets tracking populations of wetland species. The first group is wetland breeding birds, or birds that must have wetland habitat for nesting and raising their young.

Goal 2: Support diverse wetland types that are resilient and adaptable to changing conditions
Updated on: January 10 2020

A resilient system of Great Lakes coastal wetlands that is able to function within an extended range of variability, supports diversity of wetland types throughout the region, and adapts to changing climatic and hydrologic conditions.

Objective: reach Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) action plan II and III annual coastal wetland acreage target values

Metric: total coastal wetland acreage protected, enhanced, or restored by GLRI projects.