Water Action Volunteers’ Citizen Stream Monitoring Program

Wav established 1992 UWEX/DNR partnership –River Clean ups –Storm Drain Stenciling Monitoring established 1996 Diverse group determined goals, parameters, methods Water Action Volunteers’ Stream Monitoring

1.Provide opportunity for WI citizens to monitor streams 2.Support data sharing for educational purposes 3.Provide a communication network for monitors 4.Support environmental and civic groups in monitoring 5.Increase linkages between volunteers and public resource protection programs Program Goals

All groups able to measure –not cost prohibitive Easy to measure Well-represents stream health over time Sampling parameters

Volunteers monitor 6 variables VariableMethodFrequency TemperatureThermometerMonthly Dissolved oxygenHACH chemistry kitMonthly Water clarityTurbidity tubeMonthly Biotic Index (macroinvertebrates) D-net samplingTwice a year (spring/fall) HabitatSite assessmentOnce a year Stream flowOrange float methodMonthly

Annual training organized locally Hands-on 3-7 hours Parameters: Chosen locally Summer check-in picnics (opt.) Annual meetings to discuss data results, for fun and for education Volunteer Training and Education

Partnerships make it work Map created by Manitowoc Co. LWCD Citizens’ groups Wisconsin DNR biologists UWEX-Basin Educators L.W.C.D.s/Local gov’t School groups University scientists Environmental/River Groups Nature Centers W.E.R.C.s

Local programs, coordinated by –DNR/UWEX –Counties/Municipalities –Non-profit Organizations –Nature Centers –Teachers –Interest groups (e.g., T.U., Sierra Club) Who’s participating in WAV?

Helps initiate local program Provides written methods Helps local group obtain equipment Sponsors Train the Trainer events Helps to plan and carry out local training events WAV assistance for local groups

Statewide online database Website with stream monitoring information and resources Networking: List server & conferences Data analysis and summaries WAV assistance for local groups

Local coordinators’ responsibilities Recruit and interact with volunteers –Newsletters, presentations, , onsite visits, phone Organize training, QA/QC or annual events Collect and enter data from volunteers Tackle problems volunteers have (with help from WAV)

Volunteer monitors’ responsibilities Attend annual training Sample monthly during monitoring season Ask questions Submit data to local coordinator Report problems to DNR resources Learn about local water Have fun

Monitoring Equipment Cost $200/ team Watershed Education Resource Centers (W.E.R.C.s) –19 across the state –Loan a variety of monitoring equipment and resources –Training help

Data accepted into the database 6 WAV parameters (using WAV methods!), and –pH –Sample time/date –Precipitation (daily) –Rusty crayfish findings –Staff gage height –Weather –Comments

Educational Baseline data –Information about places where there might not be other data –Red flags –Many eyes in the watershed Can result in DNR learning about a potential problem and respond to it before it would otherwise have become realized Data Uses

Website News articles Annual meetings Brochures WDNR State of the Basin Reports County LWRM Plans Data Sharing Data Use

Accessing the database 1. Go to: water.uwex.edu/wav

2. Click “monitoring database” button Accessing the database

3. Choose to Enter the Database

The database is searchable by: County Site Stream Name

New and Upcoming Program Additions Crayfish surveys (Summer 2004) Macroinvertebrate wildcards (Summer 2004) Family level identification key (Fall 2004) E. coli monitoring (Spring pilot) Understanding River Data booklet (Summer 2005)

Kris Stepenuck, WAV Coordinator (E. coli monitoring project information)