Austin running the flooding model
In early June the Winnebago Waterways Program attended Fond du Lac’s Walleye Weekend. Chris and Austin, Winnebago Waterways Program staff, had an opportunity to talk to folks about our waters, the issues they face, and what’s being done about it. Chris is the program’s aquatic invasive species coordinator and staffed the event to field AIS related questions, hand out information, and remind lake-users how to prevent the spread of invasive species. Chris had some fantastic AIS specimens on display, which serve as an excellent teaching tool and really spark people’s curiosity.
Austin was there to talk to event attendees about the Lake Management Planning effort as well as run the floodplain demonstration model. The model shows the varying effects of runoff and flooding depending on landscape features and rain volume. The point of the model is to convey the very important role that wetlands and stormwater ponds play in reducing flooding and absorbing pollutants.
Being present at well-attended events is an easy way to get the word out about the issues our water’s face and what’s being done about it. We can connect people with Fox-Wolf and sometimes even get people involved in a project. We have found many focus group members at community events. Focus group members help fine tune the lake management plan that is being developed for the Winnebago System. It’s a super easy way to get involved in the large scale planning effort that is currently underway for our waters. If you’re interested in getting involved with a focus group, you can learn more HERE.
Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.
Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.
This post was written by Austin Pethan for the Winnebago Waterways Program. Questions or comments? Contact Austin at austin@fwwa.org or (920) 920-851-4295.
