University of Wisconsin - Extension

MADISON, Wis.—Among our most important natural resources are the more than 12,600 rivers and streams in Wisconsin. Throughout the state, volunteers monitor the health of their hometown streams and rivers. Monitoring is a fun way to enjoy the outdoors, and the information collected helps local citizens understand how land uses affect water resources. It also contributes to scientific research and benefits local stewardship initiatives.

“Citizen volunteers play an essential role in monitoring, protecting and restoring the streams and rivers in Wisconsin,” said Peggy Compton, University of Wisconsin-Extension Basin Educator. “The Stream Monitoring Awards Program recognizes the efforts of these volunteers working in stream monitoring.”

The Stream Monitoring Awards Program promotes awareness and participation in volunteer stream monitoring work in the state. The program recognizes individuals and groups for participation in stream monitoring, collecting stream data and sharing their knowledge. Sponsors include the Water Action Volunteers Program (WAV), University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Winners receive an engraved plaque and winners and nominees receive a certificate signed by the Secretary of the DNR.

Volunteer stream monitors are trained to measure important elements of stream health, such as dissolved oxygen, temperature and steam flow, which have a direct impact on aquatic life and water quality.

“People get involved in stream monitoring for a variety of reasons and in many ways,” Compton said. “Teachers use streams as outdoor classrooms, while citizens often monitor a stream close to home. All of these efforts are important and are recognized through this awards program."

This year’s winners include:

The 2005 “Pioneer” award goes to Jim Hlaban of Ogdensburg. Hlaban, a retiree, single-handedly formed the Friends of the Little Wolf, a group of volunteers who monitor the Little Wolf River and its tributaries. Hlaban was instrumental in obtaining equipment grants from Trout Unlimited (TU), a DNR River Protection grant, and additional support from UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison. He organizes and trains volunteers and coordinates stream ecology programs for citizens of the Little Wolf Basin and beyond. Hlaban enters all volunteers’ data into the statewide Water Action Volunteers’ online database and helps other TU chapters form local programs. As nominators Jane and Stefan Shoup said, “For his informed and unrelenting dedication to improving the quality of life, not only for the people, but for all species in [the Little Wolf Basin], he deserves special recognition.”

The 2005 “Group Effort” award goes to the Rock River Coalition, Inc., Water Quality Issue Team. Since 2002, this team has trained nearly 200 people in stream monitoring protocols and 140 are currently monitoring in the Basin. The program has five local coordinators: Pete Jopke, Ann Miller, Jayne Jenks, Ellen Rulseh, and Dan Rambo, and a Project Director, Suzanne Wade. Each local coordinator holds an annual training event and works with volunteers to ensure they have a solid understanding of the methods. The Rock River Coalition (RRC) hosts an annual confluence of monitors, offering education, camaraderie and training opportunities. The RRC has raised nearly $40,000 in grants to support the monitoring effort.

The 2005 “Teacher” award goes to Tim Sprain of La Crosse. Sprain is a middle school science teacher at Longfellow Middle School in La Crosse. He has participated in stream monitoring with his students for five years, and attended the Water Action Volunteers’ training in 2004 to enable his students to monitor according to statewide protocols. He has created opportunities for diverse groups of students to participate, from his Longfellow students, to Hmong (English as second language) students, to Upward Bound students, Milwaukee inner-city students and more. Sprain encouraged fellow teachers to train in stream monitoring in order to offer the program to several classes, and he invited landowners and DNR professionals to speak to his students about conservation issues. As nominator Kyle Neidfelt stated, “Tim is the type of teacher that students truly respond to. He has a captivating teaching style and always goes the extra mile to give students experiences that can’t obtain in a classroom setting.”

The 2005 “Adult Volunteer” award goes to Allen Bauman of Mineral Point. Bauman is a retired high school science teacher in the Mineral Point school system. For many years he worked with his students to monitor water quality in area streams. Though retired, Bauman continues his activities as a Trained Local Sampler for the Discovery Farms Program. Since 2002, he has visited the Heisner Farm every other week to monitor 3-7 sites on each visit. He monitors 10 parameters in the field and collects samples for laboratory analysis on a quarterly basis. Bauman also coordinates his efforts with the Mineral Point High School, regularly bringing students to the farm to learn about and assist with monitoring. He organized a presentation to the Mineral Point Kiwannis Club about the Heisner’s Discovery Farm. According to Discovery Farms Program co-director, Dennis Frame, “the sampling provided by Allen has provided not only early water quality information [in the life of the program], but also valuable information on the stream biology.”

A 2005 “Student Volunteers” Honorable Mention was awarded to Girl Scout Troop 508 of Black River Falls, led by Anthony Larson. The girls, in kindergarten through first grade, dedicated several hours to monitoring Perry Creek during 2004--monitoring biotic index, dissolved oxygen, stream depth and speed--and conducting a crayfish survey.

For more information about the Stream Monitoring Awards Program, contact Peggy Compton at 608 342-1633 or peggy.compton@ces.uwex.edu.