The St. Pierre Wetland (STPW) is a 130-acre SEAS-owned property that has been underutilized for its mission of research and education for much of the past 50 years. This biodiverse site includes rare and valuable wetland communities, including a prairie fen ranked as one of the top ten in the Huron River watershed. However, the site is currently threatened by several invasive plants and altered ecosystem processes. Without strategic management it will lose biodiversity, ecosystem function, and its value for academic study.
To address this problem we worked together with Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, the Huron River Watershed Council, The Stewardship Network, and the neighboring Homeowners Associations, to synthesize an adaptive management plan that emphasizes restoration and strategic engagement both within the U-M community and with external stakeholders.
We first documented historical land use changes and conducted a comprehensive ecological site assessment. Our methods included the use of existing historical documents and spatial maps, on-site flora and fauna surveys (such as a floristic quality assessment and a breeding bird survey), as well as research on non-herbicidal removal techniques for one of the primary invasives, glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus). From our site assessment we developed a spatial prioritization model to guide future management decisions and identified a set of site-specific research priorities and opportunities. The comprehensive stewardship plan aims to transform STPW into a dynamic living laboratory for research and education while integrating it into a broader socio-ecological network, reinforcing SEAS's mission and enhancing the wetland's ecological integrity.
Alex Hamilton, Jason Krick, KT Meono, Gwynne Powell, Molly Russell, and Emily Schultheis
Like many other SEAS properties, the St. Pierre Wetland (STPW) previously lacked a site-specific, strategic management plan to guide stewardship and engagement efforts. From January 2024 to April 2025, our master’s project team developed a comprehensive stewardship plan tailored to the ecological and operational needs of STPW.
This plan not only supports the long-term sustainability of the site but also serves as a model for future management planning across other SEAS properties and University-owned natural areas with research and education missions.
To conduct a comprehensive plant inventory, focused on the prairie fen community type, we employed a range of methods including:
A Floristic Quality Index (FQI) then determined that the STPW is a Floristically Important Site.
A multi-faceted wildlife survey, targeting a variety of taxonomic groups, was done to capture a broad representation of species presence. We used the following methods:
The result was a greater understanding of wildlife diversity and habitat use at the site.
Our team continued a long-term invasive removal experiment, building on the work of STPW Team I and J. Brackman, while also implementing new treatment methods:
These experiments contribute to a growing body of research on non-chemical invasive species management.
Alex contributed his expertise in ornithology by conducting a Breeding Bird Survey and creating an eBird hotspot to assess avian diversity at the site. He also applied his GIS skills to co-develop a strategic priority map using multi-criteria decision analysis, helping to guide future restoration efforts. Alex is passionate about bird conservation and the protection of the ecosystems they depend on.
Jason acted as our team's community engagement liaison, project advocate, and historian. He worked to build lasting connections for the future of the wetland and conducted extensive historical research of the site. Jason aspires to continue building lasting relationships with dedicated supporters.
KT led wildlife surveying and photo monitoring efforts at the wetland, with a focus on small mammals and reptiles. She built, installed, and managed the AHDriFT Camera Traps on site, capturing valuable data on species presence and activity. KT is passionate about conserving wildlife and the ecosystems they call home.
Drawing on her experience with invasive plant management, Gwynne helped design and implement a non-herbicidal Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) removal field experiment. She also co-developed a strategic management prioritization map of the site using multi-criteria decision analysis. Gwynne will continue advancing strategic land management and stewardship practices after graduation.
Molly developed a comprehensive community engagement master plan designed to serve both the St. Pierre Wetland and other SEAS properties. Her work will continue to support inclusive stewardship through both internal and external partnerships. Molly is especially interested in freshwater policy and management in the Great Lakes region.
As the team’s botany lead, Emily created a comprehensive plant inventory for the site and played a key role in developing and implementing experimental buckthorn removal techniques. Her interests include aquatic ecosystems (particularly wetlands), Michigan flora, and invasive species management.
We presented at the 18th Annual Stewardship Network Conference on January 23–24, 2025. During our 30-minute session, we shared key components of our project, including site history, ecosystem assessment methods, experimental non-herbicidal buckthorn treatments, and the development of strategic prioritization maps.
[More information about the conference can be found here.]
We presented to the Huron Valley Chapter of the Michigan Botanical Society in a 45-minute session tailored to the group’s botanical interests. Our presentation covered the site’s history, ecosystem assessment methods, experimental buckthorn removal treatments, and strategic prioritization mapping. We placed additional emphasis on our plant inventory process and findings to align with the audience’s expertise.
[More information about MBS can be found here.]
We presented at the 2025 Capstone Conference hosted by SEAS. Our 30-minute presentation highlighted the full scope of our project, including the site’s history, ecosystem assessment methods, experimental buckthorn removal techniques, and prioritization mapping. We placed special emphasis on our accomplishments, outcomes, and the broader impact of our work, as the presentation was shared with peers, faculty, and family members.
[More information about the conference can be found here.]
We would like to acknowledge our project faculty advisor, Dr. Sheila Schueller, for her oversight during this project.
We would also like to say a huge thank you to the Bass Ridge Homeowners Association and members for allowing us to park our cars and access the wetland!
Thank you to Stephen Brown (Shan-Gri-La Homeowners Association, past President) for his continued support on this project!
Thank you to Michael Kost (Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, Associate Curator) for lending his botanical and ecosystem expertise as our project co-advisor.
Thank you to our preceding team, STPW Team I for laying the groundwork that made our project possible!
Brendan O'Neill (Research Scientist and Lecturer, U-M SEAS)
Sucila Fernandes (Buildings and Facilities Manager, U-M SEAS)
Kate Laramie (Watershed Ecology Associate, Huron River Watershed Council)
Rachel Muelle (Senior Program Manager, The Stewardship Network)
Jacqueline Courteau (Volunteer Consultant, NatureWrite LLC)
Anton Reznicek (Research Scientist Emeritus; Curator Emeritus of Vascular Plants, U-M EEB)
