Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
Connected to the Great Lakes, coastal wetlands are unique habitats that are integrally tied to the health and diversity of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Coastal wetlands improve water quality by filtering nutrients and sediments, protect against erosion and provide critical wildlife habitat and fish spawning areas. Michigan Sea Grant supports research to understand coastal wetland processes and educate Michigan residents about their value.

Valuing Coastal Wetlands
In order to reflect the true worth of Great Lakes coastal wetlands, resource economists led by Michael Kaplowitz at Michigan State University conducted a series of focus groups in 2002 and a random survey of 1,000 Michigan residents to identify what people know and value about wetlands. Researchers are using this qualitative research to design and conduct a scientifically valid and reliable survey to gauge the value of non-market services associated with coastal wetlands—or those values not reflected in current land prices—such as ecological functions, wildlife habitat, and recreational, educational and aesthetic value. In this way, communities will have more accurate knowledge of the true economic value of wetlands as they face planning and development decisions.

Treasures of the Great Lakes
A special edition of Michigan Sea Grant’s newsletter Upwellings was devoted to Great Lakes coastal wetlands in Fall 2002. Combined with a full-color poster insert, the issue was distributed to more than 2,600 Michigan residents. As a result of this issue of Upwellings, Michigan Sea Grant was asked to facilitate a multi-party task force to investigate the issue of emergent wetlands in the Saginaw Bay area.