Floristic Quality Index: An Assessment Tool for Resoration Projects and Monitoring Sites in Coastal Louisiana

The Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) program was established to assess the effectiveness of individual coastal restoration projects and the cumulative effects of multiple projects at regional and coastwide scales. The CRMS Vegetation Analytical Team has developed a Floristic Quality Index (FQI) for coastal Louisiana to determine the quality of a wetland based on its plant species composition and abundance.