October 1, 2026
Wes Bickford, a biologist with the USGS Great Lakes Science Center, has served as a Visiting Scientist with the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center since 2024. Bickford split most of his time between two projects – one focused on developing a decision-support tool for managing an invasive species in the Great Lakes, the other an effort to understand the efficacy of restoration strategies under a changing climate. As his term came to a close in September 2026, he reflected on the research he led and the connections he made during his time with the Midwest CASC.
Phragmites australis is an invasive aquatic plant that is altering habitats, ecosystem services, and recreational opportunities in the Great Lakes region. Management of Phragmites can be challenging; in response, Bickford is building a tool to help. The tool allows managers to view priority management areas based on forecasted lake levels for the coming year and make decisions accordingly. For example, sites where water is relatively high may be prioritized for treatment, as Phragmites will already be under stress. Where water levels are really low, they may want to prioritize nearby areas where the lake bed is exposed. The tool is still in development, but will soon be published through the USGS and hosted on the Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative website, making it easy for practitioners to find and use.
The rest of Bickford’s time was spent trying to better understand the efficacy of restoration strategies in the Great Lakes as related to climate adaptation. He and his team gathered information from three large restoration projects – each pursuing a different kind of restoration work in a different location within the Great Lakes Basin – to learn more about successful strategies. “We chose established, ongoing projects, so the managers we interview are able to reflect on how they considered climate change as the project was progressing,” Bickford explained. “There isn’t much information in the scientific literature about what the best strategies are for restoration in a changing climate. We want to understand what challenges they faced, how they reacted, and how they changed their strategies accordingly.”
One of the projects the team selected was the restoration of the eroded Cat Island chain in Green Bay. “What’s interesting is that it didn’t necessarily start as a habitatrestoration project,” Bickford said. “The intention was to recreate an island chain that used to exist there, in order to protect the wetlands and port behind it, but it wasn’t thought of as a habitat restoration project specifically.” That changed when endangered piping plovers began nesting on the islands, along with many other bird species. “Now some of the energy has refocused on the wetland habitat benefits of these islands, the potential that’s been created there just by building this wave break.”
Bickford also sees this work as an opportunity to share those managers’ stories for others to learn from. He and his team are putting together case studies as part of an upcoming paper, to help bring the insights they’ve gathered to the larger community.
New connections and collaboration opportunities were the most valuable part of Bickford’s two year term. “My time with the Midwest CASC has introduced me to lots of new people, within our region and beyond. It’s been really useful to build connections with others who are doing similar work.” He appreciated the chance to be a part of a team of CASC researchers that put together a manuscript, currently in review, on the efficacy of climate adaptation strategies. “I think the paper is a valuable contribution, but also the experience in itself was useful for me – being part of that team helped me interact closely with parts of the CASC that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. I know those types of opportunities are growing, too. The Midwest CASC is intentionally opening up opportunities, through the team science initiative for example, for people to continue working together.”
The Midwest CASC also benefited from Bickford’s affiliation. Olivia LeDee, USGS Regional Administrator, said, “We are deeply grateful to Wes for the expertise, curiosity, and collaborative spirit he brought to the Midwest CASC. His work has connected climate adaptation science with practical decisions, providing Great Lakes managers with valuable tools and insights for responding to changing conditions. Just as importantly, Wes strengthened relationships across our region and contributed generously to our culture of team science.”
As Bickford returns to his work at the Great Lakes Science Center, he is planning to integrate the perspective he’s gained at the Midwest CASC and keep climate adaptation front of mind in future research. We look forward to continued collaboration and seeing how he carries these connections forward in his work.