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Long Term Resource Monitoring Procedures—Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring

Techniques and Methods 2-A22
Prepared in cooperation with the Long Term Resource Monitoring element of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
By: , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/tm2A22

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Abstract

This standard operating procedure (SOP) manual describes the collection of standardized, long-term data for aquatic vegetation communities in selected study pools of the Upper Mississippi River System in the United States. The primary intent of the data collection is to assess the status and trends that aid in understanding the unique river ecosystem and to guide large-scale ecological restoration of the river and its biological communities, like aquatic plants and their dependent wildlife. This SOP is an update to the version published in 2000 and reflects modifications to sample sizes and additions of new data collection procedures. All long-term monitoring programs and their SOPs must be adapted to changing conditions and be improved through learning, and this SOP clarifies procedures and adds new elements since the initial SOP was written more than 25 years ago. The SOP is intended for multiple audiences, including vegetation specialists through the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program, data analysts using the publicly available data generated through this SOP, and natural resource managers and restoration practitioners who need data and science to guide some decisions. This SOP may be transferable and adaptable to other ecosystems when the aquatic plant community is the focus.

Plain Language Summary

The Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program’s Long Term Resource Monitoring element made updates to the standardized operating procedure manual for collecting standardized data for aquatic vegetation in the Upper Mississippi River System. This updated manual helps users collect data more effectively. The information from the monitoring surveys is used to assess the status and trends of aquatic plants, and helps restoration managers to engineer habitat conditions for this unique river ecosystem.

Suggested Citation

Larson, D.M., Lund, E., Carhart, A.M., Fopma, S., and Szura, S., 2025, Long Term Resource Monitoring procedures—Aquatic vegetation monitoring: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 2, chap. A22, 40 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/tm2A22.

ISSN: 2328-7055 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Plain Language Summary
  • Monitoring Aquatic Vegetation
  • Taxonomy and Species Codes
  • Voucher and Herbarium Specimens
  • Quality Assurance and Quality Control
  • Summary
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Species List
  • Appendix 2. Data Sheet
  • Appendix 3. Explanations of Field Options
  • Appendix 4. Population Size, Sample Size, and Selection Probabilities
  • Appendix 5. Commonly Used Computations
  • Appendix 6. Standard Operating Procedure Manual Updates
  • Appendix 7. Herbarium Label
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Long Term Resource Monitoring procedures—Aquatic vegetation monitoring
Series title Techniques and Methods
Series number 2-A22
DOI 10.3133/tm2A22
Publication Date September 30, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Description Report: vi, 40 p.; 2 Linked Figures
Country United States
State Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin
Other Geospatial Illinois River, Upper Mississippi River
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details