Wetlands have been restored, enhanced, or created across Great Lakes watersheds to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus delivery to rivers and lakes. Whether data encompass policy-relevant metrics (e.g. nutrient load reductions) or the underlying biological mechanisms, the ways in which scientists communicate uncertainty around these measurements affects the pace at which data transforms to results and results turn into information. This presentation highlights observations from four years of work among the H2Ohio Wetland Monitoring Program’s community of researchers and practitioners. It will feature the strategies by which the Program fostered dialogue among stakeholders (e.g., scientists, managers, designers, funders) and will outline key takeaways from the dialogues. Improved communication around uncertainty builds clarity, trust, and continuity across groups and time, which strengthens adaptive design and management of wetlands for water quality.
