Rock River Basin Citizen Monitoring Program

In Wisconsin citizen monitoring data is becoming increasingly important for rivers and lakes to assess water health and to make management decisions. Most people think that the Department of Natural Resources or the county Land and Water Conservation Departments have data on all of Wisconsin’s rivers and lakes. However, only a small portion of rivers, streams or lakes have been systematically monitored. Very few have continuous monitoring stations operated by USGS.

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In the Rock River Basin we have asked both the DNR and the counties where they most need information collected. We then look for individuals to monitor those locations. Monitors can also choose sites that interest them as long as they can access the water safely and legally.

Typically, stream monitors work in teams of 2-5. They make a spring through fall commitment to take samples once a month. Monitors can be individuals, families, civic, conservation or community groups, neighborhood associations, businesses, or schools.

Monitoring teams are trained to measure 6 important elements for stream health: dissolved oxygen, temperature, water clarity, habitat, water flow and everyone’s favorite: ...invertebrate life (insects, worms, clams and crustaceans). The Rock River Basin program uses Wisconsin Water Action Volunteers protocols.

Monitor training workshops are held each spring for new and returning monitors. Then, during the team's first sampling trip each spring, a trained resource person accompanies them to establish baseline results.

Each team sends their data to a local coordinator to be included on a web-based accessible database.

In what is hoped to be an annual event, Volunteer Citizen Monitors took to the streams to 'test the waters' of the Rock River Basin on "Snap-Shot Day," Saturday, June 13, 2009. Many new monitors joined the RRC veteran monitors to take water samples between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. By doing this, everyone testing on the same day, a more comprehensive story about the Rock River Basin water quality can be determined.

The Rock River Coalition is committed to encouraging all types of environmental monitoring: lake, wetland, forest and prairie.