Stream Monitoring

  

Rick and Vicki Thorbjornsen and Butch and Mary Lobermeier (and their sons and a grandson) are on their third year of collecting data through the Citizen Based Stream Monitoring Program. This is a state-wide program of Water Action Volunteers (WAV) who are trained and supervised by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) professionals. The SFFRWA volunteers collect data for temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity throughout the summer. The group also notes streamside observations and weather.

The citizen “scientists” initiative is being piloted and tested by the WDNR to expand their capability for water data collection. Their goal is to teach volunteers the protocols of data standardization and accuracy so the WDNR can reliably use citizen-collected data in state-wide monitoring and decision making.  This could be of great value to the WDNR because they lack sufficient staff to effectively monitor all the State’s waters. A similar program is underway for lakes monitoring.

 

The SFFRWA’s data indicate a relatively healthy watershed for the sites monitored so far. The three sites sampled in the main channel of the South Fork Flambeau in 2006 showed consistently high water quality. In 2007, three major tributaries were monitored including Three-mile Creek, Murray Creek, and Sailor Creek. Murray Creek is a classified trout stream. The 2007 results are displayed in the table below. Again, overall water quality is good, although the oxygen levels at Three-mile Creek are low. The same three sites are being monitored again this summer in 2008. SFFRWA is planning a presentation for later this year in conjunction with the WDNR to educate members and interested publics on the scientific principles of water monitoring and the interpretation of the results for our local river. In the meantime, interested individuals can find more information via the attached web links.

 

http://watermonitoring.uwex.edu/pdf/level1/MonitorBrochure.pdf

 

http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/wav.htm#key1

 

Project Site

Date

       Water

Temperature

(Degrees C)

Dissolved

  Oxygen

    (mgl)

    Dissolved

     Oxygen

   (Percent

Saturation)

pH

Transparency

   Average

      (cm)

3-Mile Creek 5/20/07 14.7 11.97 117.3 7.09  75 (Stained)
  6/17/07 19.0 5.06 54.6 6.00  93 (Turbid)
  7/22/07 17.3 4.80 49.5 6.98 120 (Clear)
  8/19/07 14.6 3.27 32.4 7.03 120 (Clear)
  9/16/07 9.5 8.80 77.3 6.90 120 (Clear)
Murray Creek 5/20/07 11.2 11.80 107.2 7.25 120 (Clear)
  6/17/07 16.9 6.80 72.6 8.89 120 (Clear)
  7/22/07 16.0 8.15 81.6 7.05 120 (Clear)
  8/19/07 15.0 8.57 81.5 7.00 120 (Clear)
  9/16/07 8.8 11.07 94.2 7.02 120 (Clear)
Sailor Creek 5/20/07 16.4 9.13 93.2 7.08 120 (Clear)
  6/17/07 22.7 6.47 74.7 6.96 120 (Clear)
  7/22/07 21.1 7.21 81.0 6.81 120 (Clear)
  8/19/07 15.9 7.44 75.2 6.96 120 (Clear)
  9/16/07 11.7 10.06 92.4 6.68 120 (Clear)
Note: Water levels were normal on 5/20/07 but dropped to low for the remaining test dates.