The objective of this research is to develop and implement a new modeling framework, integrating flooding intensity data of the Southern Lake Michigan transportation network with alternative fuel vehicle routing models, for the evacuation of vulnerable communities during hazardous flooding events in a changing climate. We propose a novel evacuation routes planning framework for multiple types of vehicle fuels that have dependencies on refueling and charging infrastructure (e.g., gasoline, battery electric, and fuel cell electric vehicles). The model determines the optimal evacuation routes for each alternative vehicle fuel type that minimizes the total travel and refueling time of travelers during simulated hazardous flooding events in the Southern Lake Michigan transportation network. The designed evacuation route resources will enable decision-makers to have access to data and tools so as to plan for a diverse set of travelers with alternative fuel vehicles to evacuate and adapt during these extreme flooding events, minimizing their degree of vulnerability and sustaining resilient communities.

• Examine diets of sympatric and allopatric populations of mottled sculpins and round gobies
• Determine the relationship between mottled sculpin and round goby feeding on benthic invertebrate
  communities
• Assess the role of round gobies as trophic replacements for mottled sculpins

• Quantify contaminant levels in salmon and stream-resident fish at three sites at the southern end of Lake Michigan

• To quantify the current environmental quality, both in terms of metal concentrations and ambient conditions (pH, Eh temperature. groundwater flow directions and velocities), in different subenvironments (defined in terms of hydrologic, ecological and disturbance histories) of the Great Marsh, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
• To develop simple models/relationships to explain the spatial distribution of heavy metals across the Great Marsh and with depth within the sediments, and the environment conditions associated with enhanced mobility
• To use these models/relationships to determine the potential for heavy metal release associated with certain changes in hydrology, hydrochemistry and sediment chemistry that may occur during and following wetland restoration at the Great Marsh

Wetlands provide ecosystem services critical to the well-being of human populations, yet they have undergone massive loss and degradation. Illinois and Indiana alone have lost 85-90% of their historical wetland extent, which could impact the region’s resilience to climatic events and stressors. In response, agencies are dedicating substantial resources to restoring wetlands and their ecological functions. However, maintaining high quality, resilient habitats in human-dominated landscapes is challenging. Current literature reports a wide range of response to restoration interventions. Gathering long-term, consistent data on restored and protected wetlands is key to advancing our understanding of the root causes of this variability. This project will identify remote sensing-based indicators of vegetation composition and ecological functions to facilitate the consistent and large-scale monitoring of Lake Michigan wetlands. As a result, the project will generate three outputs aligned with the strategic goals of the IISG: (1) a literature review, to be published in a peer-review journal, summarizing current knowledge on the relationships between remote sensing-based indicators and transformations in plant communities; (2) a detailed script and tutorial, to be made available to scholars and stakeholders, showing users how to derive indicators of wetland health and recovery from free remote sensing datasets; and (3) a case study in a subsample of wetlands to serve as a proof of concept for the larger proposal.