Niagara At Large, an independent news blog, posted a news release on September 8 about a new community-based coastal monitoring program called Niagara’s Visual Assessment Survey Tool (VAST), of which Niagara College is a partner of.
The program asks community members to help track coastal conditions along Lake Erie shorelines by submitting data including photos and surveys. The data will be used to create a real-time map of coastal conditions, track results and help inform future decisions about restoration.
The release includes a quote from Annie Michaud, a professor in NC’s School of Environment and Horticulture, who says: “Community-based initiatives are extremely valuable as they establish a foundation for watershed residents to become actively involved in the health of their coast. Initiatives such as VAST will provide unique learning opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience while also supporting the local environment here in Niagara.”
