How Citizen Stream Based Monitoring Data is Used at WDNR

Water Quality Assessment Report to Congress

• Water Quality reports to Congress: Citizen generated information is used every two years to report trends in Wisconsin streams and to identify needs to the federal government.

Stream and Basin Assessment and Planning

• Consistent, replicated stream monitoring using consistent methods and equipment types over time builds a valuable repository of information. The data can be evaluated in the context of local land use changes, stream natural community (or inherent flow and temperature), and with stream type reference condition values for biological, physical or chemistry data.
• Annual condition reports to individual volunteer groups and the media: Citizen data is summarized and presented annually by volunteers to who participate in the program, as well as to the local media to show water quality trends.
• Watershed and Basin Plan preparation: Stream data which leads to water quality assessments is summarized in tables and, together with biological data, is used to express stream conditions and to mark the site for "red flags". This information is used to set priorities for stream management, protection, restoration, and funding.

Impaired Waters Evaluation:

• With close cooperation, citizen volunteers contribute to the site specific evaluation of the state's impaired waters through supplementing biological parameters with chemistry and physical data. A few projects "Level 3", or more advanced, detailed projects, are ongoing in the state.