The history and fate of ecosystem services in a human-dominated landscape: A case study from Lake Wingra, Wisconsin

Background/Question/Methods

As urban landscapes expand, they often surround formerly natural ecosystems and thereby alter their structure, function, and ecosystem services. The ability of ”natural areas” embedded in urban landscapes to continue to provide ecosystem services may depend on management and policy decisions made by the surrounding municipality. Here we examine Lake Wingra, Wisconsin as a case study of aquatic ecosystem services (water regulation, recreation, water quality, education, fish production, biodiversity, and cultural amenities) provided by a lake in a watershed that is mostly urban. There is a long history of monitoring and management within Lake Wingra and its watershed; in many cases these management actions have altered ecosystem services. Through spatial analysis of aerial photos and summary of historical written accounts, agency records, scientific research, and monitoring data we were able to reconstruct changes in ecosystem services in concert with changes in land use, public policy, and human demographics over the past century.

Results/Conclusions

Our findings include a shift in the hydrologic balance of the watershed from groundwater-fed springs to domination by surface water runoff, a shift in fish production from a community dominated by game fish to one dominated by invasive carp and panfish, and a shift in recreational use of the lake. Ecological changes have altered the mix of ecosystem services provided by the lake, and constrained potential future ecosystem services. Nonetheless, present policy options for restoration and management imply different future outcomes for ecosystem services provided by Lake Wingra.