An Ecological Assessment of the Muskegon River Watershed to Solve and Prevent Environmental Problems

	This project, led by Dr. R. Jan Stevenson at Michigan State University, is a comprehensive, multi-tierd assessment of the Muskegon River Watershed. The aim of this assessment is to correlate changes in land use patterns to other indicators of ecological integrity, thereby developing quantified, predictive land use models. These models will be valuable to policy-makers and concerned citizens, as they will aid in making careful land use decisions for Michigan's rapidly growing communities. Another objective of this project is to complete a comparative assessment of streams, lakes, and wetlands throughout the Muskegon River Watershed, and determine how sensitive their ecological services are to human disturbance. Ultimately, the aim is to aid in the development of communities in such a way as to minimize the disturbances brought on the natural ecosystems, thereby ensuring their continued functions.

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