Why we need you to be a stream monitor volunteer. Thank you. Rock River Coalition

2. MISSISSIPPI RIVER Mississippi
A 299 mile long tributary of the
BASIN
Where in the world is
the Rock River Basin?
k
Roc

3. ROCK RIVER
 2,325 miles of
streams flow into
The Rock River.

4. ROCK RIVER BASIN
 3,750 sq. miles of
land (or 5% of the
state)
 2 watersheds
 28 subwatersheds

5. ROCK RIVER BASIN
 150 lakes and
stormwater
impoundments
 Home to Horicon
Marsh and many
wetlands

6. ROCK RIVER BASIN
Covers ~ 11 counties
Home to 900,000
people
Madison, Janesville and Beloit
Waupun, Watertown,
Oconomowoc, Jefferson and
Beaver Dam

7. ??
Water is the most critical resource issue of
our lifetime and our children's lifetime.
The health of our waters is the principle
measure of how we live on the land.
Luna Leopold

8. How Do We Live on the Land in
The Rock River Basin
Produces 22% 21% of Wisconsin’s FarmsProducts
Home to of Wisconsin Agricultural

9. Dane and Dodge Animal Five Producers of Dairy,
27 Concentrated in Top Feeding Operations
Cattle and Hog Producers

10. 48 Municipal Separate
Storm Water Sewer
Systems (MS4s)
15 Industrial Facilities

11. Land Use in the Rock River Presents Many
Water Quality Challenges
What are some sources of
pollutants?

12. Run-off from city
streets carries
pollutants and
sediment -
down the
storm sewer-

13. to the nearest lake, stream or
river.

14. Run-off from agricultural fields and
construction sites…

15. …can carry manure , pesticides, fertilizers
and sediment… to the nearest lake or stream.

16. The Rock River Basin
The report card
 62 water bodies do not
meet federal standard
for phosphorus and
total suspended solids

17. Who is responsible for
maintaining or improving
water quality?

18. FARMER
S?
STORM
WATE
F AC I L R
ITIES?
LANDOWNERS?
ACT ORS
CO N T R R S,
L D E R S?
, BUI OPE
D EVEL

19. ALL OF US!!

20. THE ROCK RIVER
COALITION
“Our mission is to educate and provide
opportunities for people of diverse interests to
work together to improve the environmental,
recreational, cultural, and economic resources of
the Rock River Basin.”

21. WHO IS THE COALITION?

23. WHAT DOES THE ROCK RIVER
COALITION DO?
 Citizen Stream Monitoring
 Citizen Wetland Monitoring – restoring and
monitoring Zeloski Marsh
 Restoring the Rock – participating in developing the
Rock River Recovery Plan
 Water Star Wisconsin -- to honor municipalities who
do outstanding work

24. ROCK RIVER COALITION
STREAM MONITORING PROGRAM

25. Water Action Volunteer Programs

26. STATE–WIDE WATER ACTION VOLUNTEER
PROGRAM
144 SITES
(LEVELS 1 & 2)

27. 48 SITES
(LEVELS 1, 2 & 3)

28. What is monitored?
1. Temperature
2. Dissolved oxygen
3. Biotic Index
4. Flow – velocity
5. Transparency
6. Habitat Information

29. Why Temperature?
 Affects metabolic rates of aquatic species
Affects the amount of oxygen that can be
dissolved in the water
Affects sensitivity of organisms to disease,
parasites and pollutants

30. What can cause temperatures to rise?
Suspended solids (from runoff)
Runoff from warm pavement
Industrial discharges

31. WHY DISSOLVED OXYGEN?
Plants and animals need
dissolved oxygen to survive.
Without dissolved
oxygen
fish and macro-
invertebrates leave the
area or die

32. FACTORS THAT AFFECT AMOUNT
OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Warm water
Cold water
High levels of sediment Clear water
Excessive organic materials A lot of wave action

33. WHY TRANSPARENCY?
A measure of water clarity

34. FACTORS THAT COULD DECREASE CLARITY
Runoff from
construction sites
Runoff from
agricultural fields

35. WHY MEASURE STREAM FLOW
Defines the shape, size and course of the stream.
Integral to habitat.

36. Decreased flow -- withdrawals for
irrigation, domestic or industrial
purposes
Dams and channelization
Increased flow -- due to runoff

37. WHY BIOTIC INDEX?
Indicator species –
Poor-quality streams
will gradually lose
pollutant-sensitive
animals until only the
pollutant-tolerant
species are left

40. Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens
can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing
that ever has.
Margaret Mead

41.  2,325 miles of
You can make
streams flow into a difference.
The Rock River.