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THE USE OF FLORISTIC QUALITY ASSESSMENT
AS A TOOL FOR MONITORING
WETLAND MITIGATIONS IN MICHIGAN

Leslie Smit DeBoer, Paul E. Rothrock*, Robert T. Reber, Scott A. Namestnik

ABSTRACT
Since the concept of creating and restoring wetlands as mitigation for impacted wetlands is still relatively new, the most effective method of assessing vegetation quality in mitigation wetlands has yet to be determined. United States Army Corps of Engineers permit requirements for wetland mitigations include periodic vegetation sampling, and Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) has been recommended as a method of monitoring wetland quality. The goal of this study was to validate the use of FQA as a tool in monitoring wetland mitigations by comparing FQA performance against a priori Best Professional Judgement (BPJ) and traditional diversity indices. We also compared the variation in results from three regional FQA databases as well as the effect of quadrat size. A total of 21 wetland mitigation sites located throughout the Lower Peninsula of Michigan were included in this study. The sites exhibited a wide range of quality according to both a priori Best Professional Judgement (BPJ) and FQA data analysis. Based on the Michigan FQA database, BPJ exhibited strong correlation with standard FQA metrics, mean C (r = 0.83) and Floristic Quality Index (FQI; r = 0.70). The correlation was marginally lower when metrics were based upon the Indiana FQA database and smaller (0.25 m2) quadrats. In contrast, mean wetness and total species had low correlations (r = 0.45 and r = 0.19) with BPJ. Shannon’s Diversity Index, Simpson’s Diversity Index, and species evenness were poorly correlated with FQI (r < 0.45) and  very poorly with mean C (r < 0.20). FQA results from our 21 sites were very similar to those reported for ten other mitigation sites in northern Indiana. FQA results from all mitigation sites were lower than those seen in several natural wetlands. We conclude that wetland mitigations may not fully replace the vegetative functions of natural wetlands in the short term, but in terms of monitoring, FQA may be one tool used for assessing mitigation wetland quality.

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Tessa M. Aby-Kruger

Botanist

Tessa is a geologist, botanist and vegetation ecologist with over 10 years of experience managing and conducting projects, specializing in ecological and floristic inventories, rare plant surveys, and vegetation monitoring. She also performs wetland evaluations and is a guided hike leader.

Jeremy Sheets

Senior Wildlife Biologist, Vice President

Jeremy is a founding member of Orbis and directs its ecological and wildlife surveys, assessment and planning services, and brings over 20 years’ experience conducting various wildlife surveys with a focus on bat ecology and urban wildlife management.


Jeremy has managed wildlife projects for private firms and the public sector including for wind facilities, pipelines, roadways, military bases, and airports. Jeremy is proficient in wildlife management/control techniques, wildlife identification, threatened and endangered species, and surveying and analysis techniques for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects. Jeremy is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologists who develop Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHA) and Wildlife Hazard Management Plans (WHMP) for airports. Jeremy is qualified to inspect erosion, sediment and stormwater plans, and their implementation. Furthermore, Jeremy is federally permitted to conduct endangered bat surveys in USFWS Regions 3, 4, 5, and 6 and includes acoustic surveys, mist-netting, and radio telemetry.

J Ryan Duddleson​

Senior Archaeologist, Principal

Ryan is a founding member of Orbis and directs its cultural resource management services, and brings over 20 years’ experience helping clients assess and minimize the risk of impacting places with cultural value.


Ryan works with public sector clients including federal, state, and municipal government, as well as private firms in energy, transportation, industrial, and development sectors. He also coordinates with agencies and consulting parties involved with the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and other related cultural resource laws and regulations. He performs archival research, analysis, and excavation. Ryan also has experience in artifact and archival curation. He has applied innovative techniques to traditional artifact analysis, such as examining organic residues from prehistoric pottery to determine prior contents. Ryan also has experience with human remains in archaeological settings. Ryan meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation, 48 FR. 44716 and is a Qualified Professional Archaeologist in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.