Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2005ND75B

Evaluating and Validating the Index of Plant Community Integrity for the Assessment of Temporary, Seasonal, and Semi-permanent Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2005 Start Date: 2005-03-01 End Date: 2005-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $4,040 Total Non-Federal Funds: $10,407

Principal Investigators: Don Kirby, Don Kirby

Project Summary: The goals of this research project are to (1) evaluate the Index of Plant Community Integrity (IPCI) for use in temporary, seasonal, and semi-permanent wetlands on state and tribal lads in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota within the Northwestern Glaciated and Northern Glaciated Plains ecoregions, and (2) validate the use of the IPCI on an ecoregional basis. In 2003 and 2004, a total of 110 wetlands, 36 temporary, 39 seasonal, and 35 semi-permanent were sampled in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Using the IPCI, the sampled wetlands will be evaluated to test if the method works for all classes of wetlands in the two ecoregions. The data gathered should prove useful for (1) a set of initial data points for future assessments, (2) assessment of the success of mitigation, restoration, and creation projects, and (3) serve as a basis for biological criteria for wetlands in the states water quality standards.