Benthic Habitat Mapping in U.S. National Parks of the Laurentian Great Lakes

The National Park Service (NPS) protects diverse underwater environments in Lakes Michigan and Superior. However, there is little information on fish habitat features in these areas.  The NPS and partners are developing high resolution benthic maps for six coastal parks in the Great Lakes, using a combination of LiDAR, multi-beam sonar, and satellite imagery.  To-date, nearly 1,000 km² have been surveyed within these parks.  In addition to coastal restoration and cultural resource applications, NPS is determining substrate composition and describing physical fish habitat. At Isle Royale, NPS is mapping several spawning reefs as part of an effort to relate lake trout morphotypes to local habitat extremes. At Sleeping Bear Dunes, our mapping work is helping inform research on invasive species, including round gobies and dresseneid mussels, which are linked to nuisance algae and avian botulism issues in Lake Michigan. We are also mapping sites at Apostle Islands and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshores; mapping at these locations will be used for both coastal restoration and fisheries management purposes.  Importantly, this effort provides new opportunities for the NPS to engage with partner agencies and participate more fully in Great Lakes habitat assessment initiatives as well as coastal management and restoration efforts.