Our partners at Wisconsin DNR are looking for water quality monitoring volunteers for the Upper Fox and Wolf monitoring program for the 2022 season.
The UFW program has different monitoring sites than Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways water quality monitoring program, so if you are looking for a site that may be closer to you, check the UFW program out!
To assess long-term trends in water quality, 20 stream sites were chosen as part of the UFW volunteer monitoring program to collect water samples throughout the UFW basin. The UFW volunteer monitoring program relies on volunteers to collect reliable data to assist the DNR in tracking water quality trends over time. Volunteers collect water samples once per month, May through October. Samples are shipped to the State Lab of Hygiene in Madison, and are analyzed for Total Phosphorus, Total Suspended Solids, and Total Nitrogen.
Volunteers are still needed for the following sites for 2022:
>>CLICK HERE<< for a downloadable fact sheet
- Site 1: Shioc River
- Site 2: West Branch Wolf River
- Site 6: Waukau Creek
- Site 9: Bear Creek
- Site 12: Red River
- Site 13: Pine River
- Site 19: White River
Want to get involved?
Contact Hannah Vorrie, Watershed Restoration Coordinator, Upper Fox & Wolf Volunteer Stream Monitoring Coordinator by phone: (920) 296-5126 or by email: Hannah.vorrie@wisconsin.gov
Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org
I live near the creek that flows through the Oshkosh Country Club. Already that creek is choked with thick algae just downstream from OCC. I suspect the golf course is over fertilizing.
I am happy to collect water samples. However I think the problem is so serious, this may need to be escalated to an authority who can take action now. Last year Lake Winnebago had algae blooms all Summer.
Please let me know what I can do to help Lake Winnebago not be so over fertilized.
Thank you,
Larry Stopa
Hi Larry,
Thank you for the information! You may be please to learn that the owners of the Oshkosh Country Club have expressed interest in water quality projects. They are currently investing in restoration projects at other locations in the basin. We will reach out to them to learn about their landscaping practices at the country club and see if there are opportunities to reduce fertilizer applications/reduce nutrient runoff.
The best way you as an individual can help improve water quality of Lake Winnebago is to be part of the solution by assessing potential ways to reduce runoff on your own property as well as support the work that is happening in agriculture, urban areas, and along the shorelines to reduce nutrient pollution. We also welcome new volunteers at our priority locations. Please reach out if you would like to sign up!
Thank you so much for your interest in restoring Lake Winnebago!
Korin Doering
korin@fwwa.org
(920) 851-0948