Estuarine habitats in the St. Louis Estuary, Lake Superior, Wisconsin: past, present, and future

In the face of climate change, understanding trajectories of change is critical for coastal management, particularly for identifying future restoration and climate adaptation opportunities. The National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs), individually and as a system, therefore have an urgent need to identify the extent and spatial patterns of estuarine habitat loss. To meet this challenge, we studied habitat change across 30 U.S. estuaries to document coastal habitat loss, and identify key opportunities for future restoration and enhancement. At the St. Louis River Estuary, elevation-based mapping revealed 5,043 ha currently within the reach of high water levels and appeared to provide a fairly accurate estimate of current estuary extent. Within a focal area for historical mapping, emergent marsh underwent substantial (52%) loss between 1861 and the present. In order for the estuary to realize its full capacity to provide benefits to plants, animals, and humans, it is critical for the estuary to regain habitats that have seen the most losses. Active restoration, carefully planned to enhance future resilience, can help recover these lost habitats. The new information from this habitat change analysis thus helps us envision a more resilient coast as a legacy for future generations