Project abstract summaryproject title: assessment of habitat restoration and adaptation successes and opportunities in the mississippi rivers national park post-emerald ASH borer infestationproject…

This Cooperative Agreement award, provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CFDA 15.820) program, will support a $113,134.91 project from April 21, 2025 through April 20, 2028. The project aims to develop knowledge and tools to guide adapted decision-making for forest management within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in Minnesota. Key activities include 1) mapping and quantifying high-quality forest habitat and areas vulnerable to mortality, and 2) quantifying the survival and health of more resilient tree species planted in the last decade. This research will inform strategies for managing and stewarding healthy urban forest ecosystems in the face of threats like the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, warmer temperatures, severe weather, and increased flooding.

Activities

This project will develop knowledge and tools to guide adapted decision-making through two activities: 1) map and quantify areas of high-quality forest habitat and areas most vulnerable to future mortality and, 2) quantify survival and health of tree species with higher resilience planted within the last decade to compare and contrast different management strategies across the landscape.deliverables and expected outcomes:-information: data from adaptive plantings that show seedlings survival and health after multiple years and treatment to support current and future decision processes. -tools: map areas of highest quality habitat, and those most vulnerable to threats from disturbance, to prioritize investment to increase resilience. Umns research team will quantify relationships among environmental variables, site and management history, with important species (e.g., eastern cottonwood is extremely important for our national bird, the bald eagle), to highlight locations that are critical for restoration. -publications and presentations: results will be shared with partners, stakeholders, managers, and the broader scientific community to support management strategies.intended beneficiary(IES):research outcomes will directly benefit individuals and organizations managing and stewarding forest ecosystems within the twin cities (minneapolis and saint paul, minnesota) metro and beyond, by creating knowledge surrounding tree survival and growth. This provides direct benefit to the millions of individuals that rely on drinking water and the transportation along the mississippi river and can be applied to other locations where cities and waterways converge to maintain ecological and economical services.

Subrecipient activities

As a research partner with UMN, mississippi park connection will coordinate the RE-measurement of planted seedlings and the regional project partner activities.