Waukesha County Invites Citizens to Assist with Stream and River Water Quality Improvement

(WAUKESHA, WI) – Waukesha County invites residents to participate in Wisconsin’s statewide Water Action Volunteers (WAV) program by attending a free Stream Monitoring Training on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Carroll University’s Prairie Springs Environmental Education Center, located at W307S4706 Hwy 83 in Genesee Depot.

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“It’s great to have volunteers support the efforts for clean water by collecting valuable data for the County and State,” said Jayne Jenks, Waukesha County Water Resources Specialist. “This citizen scientist opportunity is a terrific experience for any age.”

Attendees will be trained to collect data from local streams and rivers. No prior experience is required, all training and equipment will be provided. Monitors will learn how to measure water temperature, dissolved oxygen, flow (in cubic feet/second), and transparency. They will also learn how to identify the macroinvertebrates that live in the water. Analysis of the macroinvertebrate diversity and sensitivity to pollution helps gain an understanding of the health of the water.

Waukesha County provides the free training for this statewide program through a coordinated partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin – Cooperative Extension. Those who participate in the training will be getting an assigned  stream site to revisit throughout the summer to gather ongoing data for analysis.

For more information or to register for the Stream Monitoring Training at Prairie Springs Environmental Education Center, call Jayne Jenks at 262-896-8305.

About the Department of Parks and Land Use
Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, working through a combination of collaboration, education and regulation is dedicated to fostering economic development, sound land use, and the protection, enhancement and enjoyment of the County’s natural resources and health of its citizens.