Rock River Basin July 2009 Update

Download a printable version (PDF, 63kb)

Rock River Updates is a listing of events and other items of interest for people in and around the Rock River Basins of Wisconsin. We strive for a once a month mailing. Inclusion is not an endorsement of a program, publication or website. If you have questions about this update or if you have items to be added contact Suzanne Wade at suzanne.wade@ces.uwex.edu .

Rock River Coalition Sponsored Events

To receive informational flyers on RRC events email marier@co.jefferson.wi.us

Water Star Blog now at http://fyi.uwex.edu/waterstar/ , get current list of actions, needs, case studies and make comments.

July 6, Deadline for submission of articles for the Summer Rock River Reflections Newsletter

July 13 Rock River Stormwater Group Meeting: 10:00 – Noon, Jefferson City Hall

July 30 Groundwater Issue Team 9:00 – 11:30 DATCP Madison

Aug 11 Rock River Stormwater Group Meeting: tentative (generally the second Tuesday of the month)

Aug 11 or 12 RRC Board meeting 4:30 – 6:30 UWEX Jefferson County

Aug 29 Project RED Training with the River Alliance of Wisconsin:  9 am - 1 pm, Lake Mills Community Center. Training for citizen monitors to identify, report, and control invasive species in and along rivers and streams. http://wisconsinrivers.org/index.php?page=content&mode=view&id=171

Natural Resource Calendar of Events:

Multi session offerings:

2009 Aldo Leopold Foundation Expert Tours: : July 3 - October 2 on first Friday of every month, three selected Fridays are a special, behind the scenes look at what makes the Leopold Center project possible. Registration required,  http://www.aldoleopold.org/Visit/Expert.shtml . Tour Rates: All ages: $25/person; Leopold Foundation Members: $15/lecture, or $45/entire series.

Single Session Events:           

June 27-July 19 The Secchi Dip-In: Participate in this network of volunteer programs and volunteers, supplying data for state and local programs and, together with all other participants, gathering and providing continent-wide (and world-wide) information. Visit: (http://dipin.kent.edu/Press_release.htm ). (http://dipin.kent.edu/Questionnaire.htm ) or contact: Bob Carlson, rcarlson@kent.edu .     

July 1 Public Hearing for Glacial Heritage Area (GHA) Project Proposal:  Local leaders and the Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) have developed a proposal for a network of recreation and conservation lands centered primarily in western Jefferson County. Info:  Overview Brochure [PDF 1MB] (includes map)  Comments on the proposal can be submitted by attending the Public Meeting at Lake Mills Community Center, 6:00 – 8:00 pm; or filling out the online survey ; sending an email to Glacial.Heritage@wisconsin.gov , and/or calling John Pohlman at (608) 264-6263. Deadline for submitting comments is July 15.

July 17 Deadline for Monitoring Data: The DNR is looking for quality monitoring data useful in the development of the 303d impaired waters list. See announcement below under ‘Other’ for more information.

July 20-22 The Mississippi River Basin & Agriculture: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!  Clean Water Network Regional Caucus in Minneapolis, MN. The draft agenda can be found HERE .  Early registration due by July 4.

July 21 – 23 Farm Technology Days: Crave Brothers Farm, Waterloo, come visit our Rock River Basin watershed restoration (TMDL) booth. We’re looking for input on enlisting farmers and ag-business into the process.

July 28-Aug 2 Wisconsin Tree ID Course:  For teachers and general public, at Mazomanie Elementary School Fee: $50. Info. or to register: Dr. Catherine Woodward, 608-265-9065, cwoodwar@wisc.edu ; http://www.wistep.wisc.edu/moo.html   Register by July 17.

Aug 1 Application Deadline for Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program.  The National Park Service helps partners plan successful locally-led outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation projects.  Applicants are encouraged to discuss project ideas with RTCA staff before submitting an application . Info: visit www.nps.gov/rtca

Aug 9-12 Water Environment Federation Specialty Conference - TMDL 2009:  Minneapolis: Combining Science and Management to restore impaired waters. Two Pre-Conference Workshops are available. More info. visit: www.wef.org/TMDL
 
Aug 13-16 or  Aug 27 – 30 Wisconsin Coverts Project Workshops in Woodruff, WI: For private landowners interested in enhancing their woodlands for wildlife. FREE (including lodging and meals).  In exchange for free workshop, participants agree to become Coverts Cooperators. 25 spaces available.  Applications June 15   Info: at http://forestandwildlifeecology.wisc.edu/wl_extension/wicovertsproject.html    

Aug 17-18 Wisconsin Environmental Science Teacher Summit: Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, Amherst Junction, WI. Focus will be field experiences and in-depth workshops that provide ready to use activities. More info. contact - Sunshine Buchholz (WAEE Member) University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, (715) 346-2014 or sbuchhol@uwsp.edu ; www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee

Aug 21-23, 2009 Women in Outdoors Seeking Instructors: The State-wide event will be held at Camp LuWiSoMo on Round Lake and Wild Rose  The planning committee is seeking instructors for "Living Green" and "Bird Watching" sessions  If interested and able to teach these sessions, contact Joan Voigt, at jostamps@centurytel.net or joan.voigt@wisconsin.gov or 920-787-7364

Aug 21-23 Northwoods Wetlands and Poetry Trip:  3 days of camping, hiking, wetland discovery, and poetry writing in Florence County, northern Wisconsin. www.wisconsinwetlands.org/poetry course09.html.
 
Aug 27 Agronomy/Soils Field Day: Tours and Exhibits of current crops and soils research at Arlington Agricultural Research Station. Tours depart from Public Events Facility at 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 1:00 pm. Lunch and refreshments available. Luncheon speaker at 12:15 pm and special session 1:00-2:30 pm. Info: contact Dept. of Agronomy 608-262-1390 or Dept. of Soil Science 608-262-0485

Sept 19 Deadline for 2010 National Monitoring Conference Call for Abstracts.  Abstracts should be submitted via Internet at http://acwi.gov/monitoring/ and clicking on “2010 National Monitoring Conference.”  Follow instructions provided on the abstract-submittal page.
 
Oct 14-17 Climbing the GREEN Wall, 2009 Midwest Environmental Education Conference:  1 Hotel and Conference Center, Champaign, IL. The Conference Strands include Sustainability, Natural History, Administration and Interpretation. Info: www.EEAI.net  

2010
Apr 25-29 7th National Monitoring Conference-Monitoring From the Summit to the Sea:  Denver, CO. Focus will be on the many facets of water quality and water quantity monitoring for improved understanding, protection, and restoration of our natural resources and communities. Info: http://acwi.gov/monitoring/conference/2010/index.html
 

ORGANIZATIONS WITH WEEKLY OR SEASONAL OFFERINGS

Not all listings are included above, check out websites for full schedule

Horicon Marsh, N7725 Hwy. 28, Horicon, WI 53032-9782.  Contact: William K. Volkert, 920-387-7877; William.volkert@wisconsin.gov

Urban Ecology Center – 1500 E. Park Place, Milwaukee,  www.urbanecologycenter.org or Contact: Carljean Buhk, 414-964-8505, x105. 

Aldo Leopold Foundation, Inc., E13701 Levee Rd., Baraboo, tours@aldoleopold.org or www.aldoleopold.org or Contact: Tour Coordinator, 608-355-0279, ext. 27.

UW Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Hwy., Madison, www.uwarboretum.org , info@uwarboretum.org   or Contact: Pat Brown, 608-263-7888.

Madison Audubon Society, Inc., 222 S. Hamilton St., Suite #1, Madison, www.madisonaudubon.org   masoffice@mailbag.com or Contact: Karen Etter Hale, 608-255-2473.

Midwest Renewable Energy Association, 7558 Deer Rd., Custer, WI.  www.the-mrea.org   chris@the-mrea.org or Contact: Chris Talbot, 715-592-6595.

Wisconsin Wetlands Association, 222 S. Hamilton St. #1, Madison.  Laura.england@wisconsinwetlands.org ,  www.wisconsinwetlands.org or Contact: Laura England or Rachael Carlson, 608-250-9971.

The Woodland School, Baraboo, WI.  Classes for new and experienced land stewards.  Visit www.aldoleopold.org/woodlandschool or call:  608-355-0279.        

Publications

Researchers Compare Mercury Levels in Watersheds: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) published three articles on mercury transport, biogeochemical processes and bioaccumulation in eight stream ecosystems in Environmental Science & Technology. Visit: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/mercury/pubs

EPA Offers New Climate Change and Water E-Newsletter covers news and information related to water programs and climate change. To subscribe to the climate change and water e-newsletter, see www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange

“Residential Construction Trends in America’s Metropolitan Regions,” EPA Report Shows Some Cities Shifting to Redevelopment. Report examines building trends in the 50 largest metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2007 (see www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/construction_trends.htm )

Low Impact Development Fact Sheet Updated:  EPA recently updated the fact sheet titled Incorporating Environmentally Sensitive Development into Municipal Stormwater Programs.”  Available on EPA’s municipal stormwater Web site (www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/municipal )
or directly at www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/region3_factsheet_lid_esd.pdf

Karst Brochure:  Newest version on-line at: http://basineducation.uwex.edu/rockriver/groundwater.cfm

Summer 2009 Land Use Tracker: http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/landcenter/newsletterstracker.html
Features in this edition include:  Are We Drinking Our Land Use Habits? Preserving Water Quality Through Positive Food Choices; Landscape Features that Drive Parcelization; County GIS Mapping

Other

Monitoring Information Needed:

Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to publish and update a list of waters that are not meeting one or more water quality standards.  This list is known as the Impaired Waters List and is updated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) every two years.

WDNR is currently soliciting and accepting water quality data that may be useful in listing waters on the 2010 Impaired Waters List.  WDNR staff will review submitted data as part of our assessment process.  Some of the parameters we will be concentrating on are: biological (IBI and HBI), chemical (pH, dissolved oxygen) and habitat data.  Primarily, we are looking for water quality data collected between the years 2003-2009 that has been quality assured (has a quality assurance project plan or equivalent for QA/QC).

For more information: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/condition/
Data submission forms, as well as guidance for submitting data, are also available on the website: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/condition/2010_Data.htm

Data is needed by July 17th, 2009 to be considered for the 2010 Impaired Waters List.

If you receive this email, and would like to be on a future distribution list, please contact Nicole at: nicole.richmond@wisconsin.gov

Questions can be directed toward Nicole Richmond (nicole.richmond@wisconsin.gov ) or Lisa Helmuth (lisa.helmuth@wisconsin.gov ).

Websites of Interest

The National Ground Water Association (NGWA): redesigned and updated its educational Web site for well owners called Wellowner.org (www.wellowner.org   a great resource for information about well construction, well maintenance, water testing and treatment, and ground water protection.

EPA Unveils Watershed Central: www.epa.gov/watershedcentral helps users find environmental data, watershed models, guidance documents, nearby local organizations and other information. Site includes a “Watershed Central wiki,” where watershed practitioners can collaborate and share information online

Helping Horse Owners Manage Manure: The Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center now offers a series of Web-based resources on how to manage horse manure (see
www.extension.org/pages/Managing_Horse_Manure )....

The Clean Water Network - Meetings and Events: Mississippi River and Ag Meeting: 
http://www.cleanwaternetwork.org//events/DisplayContent.cfm?ContentID=78

Low Impact Development Urban Design Tools (www.lid-stormwater.net )

Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service www.mosesorganic.org/resources.html )

Picturing Smart Growth (www.nrdc.org/smartgrowth/visions )

StormUlator (www.stormulator.com )

Watershed Forestry Resource Guide (www.forestsforwatersheds.org )

Learn more about the Gypsy moth which threatens to strip leaves from the trees in our forests, parks and neighborhoods:  http://gypsymoth.wi.gov or call 1-800-642-MOTH (6684) or dnrfrgypsymoth@wisconsin.gov

Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer Internet site at www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov contains new information on the EAB infestation in Southeast WI’, the Urban Forestry Toolkit is available from the EAB Internet site.  Also, the Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer hotline: 1-800-462-2803.

Citizen-Based Monitoring:  Wisconsin website:  http://cbm.wiatri.net/index.cfm

Miscellaneous

North American Bumble Bee Nest Survey 2009:  Bumble bees are important pollinators for both agricultural and wild plants, but we know little about their natural history in North America. Your information is important for research, and will contribute to future conservation efforts. Contact Athena Anderson, doctoral student at University of Georgia, for an on-line survey form:  nestsurvey@yahoo.com

“Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” Video Highlights Green Methods to Control Stormwater Runoff. EPA and the U.S. Botanic Garden have produced an online video, highlighting rain gardens, green roofs, rain barrels and cisterns to manage stormwater runoff. www.epa.gov/nps/lid

New Online Sustainability Training Courses and Certified Sustainability Professional (CSP and SCSP) Training Programs:  Announced by DGS / Environmental Project Management and Sustainability Solutions. Info: http://www.envpmsolutions.ca/

“The Fluid Planet” the latest issue of an online video series released by National Water Program.  Available at: www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/partners/fluid_planet.html .  The videos highlight efforts to improve water quality and quantity.

K-12 Teachers and Students

July 7-10 Water: A Living Lesson: 6th Annual Water Conference for Educators, San Antonio, Texas, will provide a unique opportunity for formal, non-formal, and public agency educators to learn innovative, interactive, and tested methods of teaching water subjects to K-12 students. Info: http://www.wateralivinglesson.org

Aug 3-7 Wilderness Explorers Outdoor Leadership Camp: A skill-building, canoe-camping trip for middleschoolers by MOO & MATC). Info. or to register: Dr. Catherine Woodward, 608-265-9065, cwoodwar@wisc.edu ; http://www.wistep.wisc.edu/moo.html   Fee: $25. Register by July 17.

Aug 13-14 Biotechnology for the Classroom (Teacher Training course by Fotodyne). Fee: $65. Info. or to register: Dr. Catherine Woodward, 608-265-9065, cwoodwar@wisc.edu ; http://www.wistep.wisc.edu/moo.html . Register by July 31.

Aug 19 Wisconsin Stream Monitoring Opportunity for Teachers: Teacher Training To Pilot a New In-Class and Field Curriculum for Middle and High School Students.  Stream Monitoring Curriculum Orientation 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at Mazomanie Science Outreach Outpost, Mazomanie Elementary School. Registration by August 7th. Info: 608-265-9065; cwoodwar@wisc.edu ; or http://www.wistep.wisc.edu/moo.html   Free. UW credit available.

Integrated Pest Management Curriculum:  Connecticut elementary and middle school program to include a concept often reserved for farmers and employees of pest control and landscaping companies—integrated pest management (IPM).  Info: http://www.hort.uconn.edu/IPM/curriculum/currintro.html or www.epa.gov/newsnotes/pdf/87issue.pdf

Free Climate Change DVD: Univ. of Colorado CIRES Education and Outreach group offer a free educational DVD, Polar Visions, by Ryan Vachon, about climate change and its effects on polar regions, and contains seven stand-alone segments appropriate for use in all kinds of science classrooms and informal settings from the middle level through college, For copies and standards alignment info., email Tina Arthur at tina.arthur@colorado.edu with name, work title, employer/program, grade level(s), # of copies requested, Email Address; Full mailing Address

National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Report: Children and the Outdoors State Policy Solutions Guide provides model solutions to policy makers and advocates to aid in the effort in connecting children with nature. http://www.nwf.org/nwfwebadmin/binaryVault/State_P

National Ocean Service Offers Online Estuary Game: A new educational online game called
“WaterLife: Where Rivers Meet the Sea” (see http://games.noaa.gov/oscar ). Designed for 4th-7th graders, introduces science-based educational concepts; raises awareness and interest in topics dealing with estuaries, water quality, tides, and marine debris; and explains what individuals can do to help…