Program Satisfaction Among Level 2 Citizen Stream Monitors Bret Shaw Department of Life Sciences Communication UW Extension & UW-Madison Chris Clayton Citizen Based Stream Monitoring Coordinator River Alliance of Wisconsin / WDNR Kris Stepenuck Water Action Vounteer Coordinator UW Extension / WDNR

Research Questions What are Level 2 Citizen Stream Monitoring Volunteers motivations for being involved with the program? How effective do they think the program is in different areas? How satisfied and committed to staying involved with the program are Level 2 Volunteers?

Sample 51 Level 2 volunteers responded to online survey Average age: % male/35.3% female 70% of respondents had been volunteering for 3+ years 52.9% work part-time; 27.5% retired Largest percentage of respondents (49%) collected data 5-6 times in past year

Motivations for Volunteering ReasonsAverage 1-5 Scale (1=Not at all; 5=Very much) Support conservation of natural habitat 4.51 To do something worthwhile4.41 To detect problems in stream health to be 4.29 responded quickly to if needed For personal satisfaction and achievement4.08 To increase awareness of stream health problems4.06 To do something interesting3.98 Develop new skills, knowledge and experiences3.90 Committed to conservation of particular stream 3.75 To use existing skills, knowledge and experiences3.75 To get outside and explore new areas3.75 Streams are very important to somebody I respect3.75 To meet new people2.65

Evaluation of Program Effectiveness AttitudesAverage 1-5 Scale (1=Not at all; 5=Very much) Confident in quality of data I collect4.53 Understand purpose of monitoring program4.47 Data I collect as a volunteer is valuable4.27 The data collected contributes to conservation4.06 I am knowledgeable about the meaning of the data4.04 The program helps preserve stream ecosystems3.90 I have the tools I need to promote awareness of 3.49 stream health in my community The data I collect is being used as effectively as 3.29 possible to promote conservation issues Other conservation groups in my area are aware of the 2.98 stream monitoring program Local media is aware of stream monitoring data1.94

Satisfaction and Commitment to Program StatementsAverage 1-5 Scale (1=Not at all; 5=Very much) Plan to stay involved at least for coming year4.71 My time volunteering w/the program is time well spent4.61 I’m proud of my work volunteering with the program4.41 My efforts volunteering w/the program are rewarding4.31 I would refer others to the program4.31 I am satisfied with my experiences as a volunteer4.22 My volunteering makes a difference in protecting the3.76 environment The citizen stream monitoring program does a good 3.02 job getting the word out about the data we collect

Info desired by Citizen Stream Monitoring Volunteers StatementsAverage 1-5 Scale (1=Not at all; 5=Very much) Articles demonstrating how data could be used4.57 Articles demonstrating how the citizen monitoring data 4.55 have been used Written descriptions to understand what the data mean4.55 Graphs showing changes in data over time4.51 News developments about stream issues4.31 Articles about how the program has made an impact4.31 Articles written by biologists4.16 Case studies on stream conservation4.14 Articles written by volunteers3.71 Interviews with volunteers3.49

Addressing Identified Needs Identifying stories to promote where citizen stream monitoring has made a measurable impact in the community Targeted media campaign promoting availability of Level 2 Stream Monitor data WORT radio show in Madison Newspaper story in Fond du Lac Reporter Trout Unlimited Web site Targeting media outlets where Level 2 Volunteers have a presence and other relevant statewide publications (e.g., Wisconsin Outdoor News)

Addressing Identified Needs Exploring creation of new outreach materials to empower volunteers to communicate more effectively about the program in their communities e.g., brochures that volunteers can give out when asked about their stream monitoring work Reach out to relevant stakeholders e.g., Science teachers/schools, conservation groups, county boards, community awareness Creating updated graphics to make data easier to understand for general public