Water Monitoring

Interested in dealing with water issues? Then get experience volunteering at one of the many water-related organizations in Wisconsin.

Please Note: The EPA has a nationwide website on water monitoring.

Ahnapee River Watershed Group

Subject Area(s): Rivers/Streams
Purpose: To monitor the health of the Ahnapee River and see how agriculture in the area may be affecting it.
Data Types Collected: physical parameters, biological parameters
Volunteer Services: Training sessions for new volunteers, Advanced training sessions for experienced monitors
Affiliation: UWEX/WDNR Water Action Volunteers
Contact Information:
Donald Brown, Coordinator
N9598 Elder Dr., Algoma, WI 54201
Phone: (920) 487-2615

Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Monitoring Program

Subject Area(s): Rivers/Streams
Purpose: To conserve, protect, and restore waterways by having baseline data, and respond to issues that could challenge a trout stream. Also interested in involving the public in Trout Unlimited monitoring activities.
Data Types Collected: Physical parameters, Biological parameters, Chemical parameters
Volunteer Services:

Training sessions for new volunteers
Regular meetings throughout the year
Staff consultation with individual monitors
Affiliation: UWEX / WDNR Water Action Volunteers

Contact Information:
Bob Rennock, Co-chair of stream monitoring
Wautoma, WI
Phone: (920) 579-0992

Our Central Wisconsin TU River Keepers are not involved in the roadside salt studies, but we are involved in monitoring and watchdogging over 20 streams in central Wisconsin. We welcome anyone who wants to join our group and/or learn about the process of water monitoring. We will be getting organized for 2012 in February and we will have training sessions in April of 2012. -- John Gremmer

Citizen Lake Monitoring Network - Northeast Region

Subject Areas: Lakes/Ponds/Reservoirs, Exotics/Invasive Species
Purpose: To create a ripple effect from creating interest in area lakes, to do trend monitoring, to share information and concern, and to increase the quality of lakes.
Data Types Collected: Physical parameters, Chemical parameters, Distribution and Range
Volunteer Services:

Training sessions for new volunteers
Advanced training sessions for experienced monitors
Online training
Conferences
Volunteer monitor newsletter
Group website
Data analysis and reporting
Email list or list-serve for volunteers
Staff consultation with individual monitors

Affiliation: WDNR
Contact Information:
Laura Herman, Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Educator
Phone: (715) 346-3989
Jay Schiefelbein, Northeast Region Coordinator
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
625 E. Cty. Rd. Y, Ste. 700, Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone: (920) 303-5449

Clean Boats Clean Water

Help educate boaters about aquatic invasive species. Many UWO students have participated.

Contact Information:
Erin McFarlane, Aquatic Invasive Species Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: (715) 346-4978

Clean Water Action Council

CWAC Water Action Council is a non-profit citizen organization, founded in 1985, working to protect public health and the environment in Northeast Wisconsin.

Friends of Milwaukee Rivers Citizen Based Water Quality Monitoring Program

Subject Areas: Rivers/Streams, Exotics/Invasive Species, Lakes/Ponds/Reservoirs
Purpose: Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers is working toward a goal of establishing a watershed-wide network of trained citizen volunteers who are monitoring streams and rivers in the Milwaukee River Basin, and who collect the information in a consistent and useable format. Our goal is to use collected data to inform decision making both for regulatory and management decisions, as well as for educational purposes. We also train volunteers to identify potential sources of pollution, and work collaboratively to find solutions to these problems.
Data Types Collected:

Physical parameters
Chemical parameters
Biological parameters
Collectors and users
Habitat Protection
Habitat Conditions and/or Availability
Habitat Requirements
Threats to Populations

Affiliation: Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers
Contact Information:
Cheryl Nenn, Milwaukee Riverkeeper
1845 N. Farwell Ave., Ste. 100
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 287-0207 x 29

Fox River Watch

It's worth watching, and you can help.

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

FWWA is an independent, non-profit organization that identifies issues and advocates effective policies and actions to protect, restore and sustain the water resources of Wisconsin's Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Contact Information:
Nick VandeHey, Board President
Phone: (920) 858-3982

Gathering Water Conservancy

Contact Information:
Email: info@gatheringwaters.org

Groundwater Observation Network of Wisconsin

Subject Area: Groundwater
Purpose: To maintain a water-resource database responsive to the needs of the state and nation.
Data Type Collected: water quality
Affiliation: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey
Contact Information:
Jason Smith, Hydrologic Technician
USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center
8505 Research Way
Middleton, WI 53562
Phone: (608) 821-3849

Lake Winnebago Self Help Monitoring

Subject areas: Lakes/Ponds/Reservoirs
Purpose: To make the public aware that a system of this size can not be properly studied without the participation of citizens to help obtain data in order to manage the system adequately.
Data Types Collected: physical parameters, collectors and users
Affiliation: Winnebago Lakes Council, UW-Oshkosh Aquatic Studies Center, WDNR Self-Help Lake Monitoring
Contact Information:
Mike Lizotte, Sustainability
800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone: (920) 424-0848

Lower Fox River Watershed Monitoring Program

Subject Areas: Rivers/Streams, Birds, Amphibians/Reptiles
Purpose: To provide hands-on science and ecosystem monitoring experience for students and teachers, and to develop a long-term database for questions and decision making about the environment.
Data Types Collected: Population Demographics, Distribution and Range, Physical parameters
Volunteer Services:

Training sessions for new volunteers
Group website
Data analysis and reporting
Regular meetings throughout the year
Staff consultation with individual monitors

Affiliation: UW-Green Bay
Contact Information:
Annette Pelegrin, Watershed Outreach and Education Coordinator
UW-Green Bay
2420 Nicolet Dr.
Green Bay, WI 54311
Phone: (920) 465-5031

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River Alliance of Wisconsin

Contact Information:
Email: info@wisconsinrivers.org

Testing the Waters - Milwaukee River Watershed

Subject Areas: Rivers/Streams, Insects, Exotics/Invasive Species
Purpose: To monitor current conditions and long-term trends.
Affiliation: Riveredge Nature Center
Data Types Collected: Population Trends, Habitat Conditions and/or Availability
Volunteer Services:

Training sessions for new volunteers
Advanced training sessions for experienced monitors
Conferences
Volunteer monitor newsletter
Other publications
Group website
Links to websites of other programs
Data analysis and reporting
Staff consultation with individual monitors

Contact Information:
Mary Holleback, Project Director & Environmental Educator
4458 W. Hawthorne Dr.
Newburg, WI 53060
Phone: (800) 287-8098

Ulao Creek Partnership

Subject Area: Rivers/Streams
Purpose: To have a baseline of information available to different organizations in the watershed, to plan and monitor development and its impacts on Ulao Creek, as well as to provide environmental awareness.
Data Types Collected: Physical parameters, Biological parameters, Chemical parameters
Volunteer Services:

Training sessions for new volunteers
Data analysis and reporting
Staff consultation with individual monitors

Affiliation: UWEX / WDNR Water Action Volunteers, Ozaukee Co. LCD
Contact Information:
Mike Grisar
121 W. Main St., PO Box 994
Port Washington, WI 53074-0994
Phone: (414) 221-5426

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