Since 1990 the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) has developed and constructed wetlands restoration projects in coastal Louisiana to counter the highest levels of wetland loss in the nation. To assess the effectiveness of these projects and monitor ecological trends across the coast, the Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) was established in 2003 to systematically collect soil, elevation, floristic, water, and other environmental data at 390 sites. The CRMS viewer accesses graphs, charts, site photos, and an overall report card so that users can look at monitoring data in series, as specific points in time, and in conjunction with other data groups to understand past and current environmental conditions. Because these data are available for public viewing and use, we explore the value of using CRMS data to educate students about the causes and consequences of wetland loss through a phenomenon-based approach.
Results/Conclusions
CRMS data offer windows into environmental conditions over daily, seasonal, and yearly cycles across the Louisiana coast, encouraging students to recognize links between trends in data and the disappearing land in their own backyards. Students can use these data to explain observed changes in vegetative composition, land area, and wildlife communities. CRMS data can elevate classroom discussion from simple statements such as “Louisiana is losing coastal wetlands,” to a series of inquiries based on the observable phenomenon that current maps of Louisiana’s coast are very different from maps drawn 100 years ago. Investigative questions could include: What factors have contributed to that difference? What influenced water metrics during a specific week versus the last decade, and how does that connect to wetland loss? How do water quality and salinity impact marsh health? Environmental monitoring data such as CRMS give students the opportunity to make connections between science instruction and personal experience and observation, which fosters deeper understanding and engagement.