Explore Macroinvertebrate Data |
(Above) WI Master Naturalists learning how to measure dissolved oxygen during a Fall WAV stream monitoring training at Upham Woods in the Wisconsin Dells.
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2025 is officially coming to an end and what a year it has been! We're especially thankful for the coordinators and volunteers who spent hours in the field teaching, organizing, driving, monitoring, and stewarding our waterways.
But wait...the year is not over yet! We have one more Winter Water Talk this month on Dec 18 to celebrate and learn about the great Wisconsin tradition of ice fishing. And our team and partners are already preparing for the 2026 Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention in Stevens Point in April - registration is now open! Keep reading for a sneak peek.
A very happy holidays to you all!
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New! Explore Biotic Index Data on the WAV Data Dashboard |
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All 2025 stream monitoring data entered by December 1 is now available to explore on the WAV dashboard.
We are also excited to announce two improvements:
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Let us know if you have any feedback to make this resource better!
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Join us this Thursday, Dec 18 for our next Winter Water Talk |
Bundle up, grab your favorite hot drink, and join us on Dec. 18th for a broad overview into the world of ice fishing, offering insights that will enhance your time on the ice and foster a greater appreciation for ice-covered lakes.
Stephanie Boismenue (Oneida County Land & Water Conservation) and John Heusinkveld (Northwoods Land Trust) will cover the basics of tackle, technique, technologies, where to find fish in the cold water, staying warm and safe on frozen water, connecting with the elements, aquatic invasive species, and stewardship efforts to protect our frozen habitats.
We hope you'll join us!
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Registration is Now Open for the WI Lakes and Rivers Convention! |
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(Left) 2026 WI Lakes and Rivers Convention logo. (Right) PJ Liesch, UW-Madison Entomology, teaches a macroinvertebrate workshop during a past convention.
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Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention
“Decades of Dedication”
April 15-17, 2026
Stevens Point, WI
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When tackling a monumental challenge, it sometimes takes a long time to see results. The 2026 Lakes and Rivers Partnership Convention will look back on the long-term programs and the accumulated actions of countless people that have persevered through many decades. Their dedication has ensured that the programs that developed in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s are still with us in the 2020’s and beyond.
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(Above) Extension Rivers Educator, Emily Heald, holding a snake at the convention!
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| If this doesn't have you running to register, here are 5 reasons you should attend:
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- Meet other water lovers from across Wisconsin
- Access to great opportunities for lifelong learning, including an entire River Talks session!
- Interactive workshops, such as Aquatic Plant ID and Aquatic Invertebrate Microhabitats
- Help celebrate WI Stream Monitoring Award recipients during the convention's banquet
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Connect with WAV staff, WAV coordinators, and fellow stream volunteers (we'll all be there!)
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Jump into January with our third Winter Water Talk |
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Join us on Wed. January 14, 2026 for “How Streams Get Their Water.” We’ll be joined by Margaret Zimmer, associate professor in the Soil and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Streams are some of the most hydrologically dynamic aquatic systems on Earth's surface. The origin of stream water sets its chemical and biophysical fingerprint, yet quantifying where water comes from in streams is challenging. This is in large part because hydrologic flowpaths are dynamic in space and time, activating during certain periods of the year in response to rainfall and snowmelt and deactivating as the terrestrial environment dries. As our weather and human water use intensify, we anticipate large scale changes to the hydrologic behavior of our river and stream networks, with anticipated ripple effects to our in-stream biological communities. This talk provides a foundational survey about how streams get their water, with case studies from across Wisconsin.
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Nature’s Canvas: Tiny Art Show – Call for Artists! |
Support our friends and fellow volunteers at the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program by submitting original artwork for the Tiny Art Show!
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The Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program invites artists of all skill levels to contribute to the Nature’s Canvas Tiny Art Show, a celebration of creativity and connection to the natural world. We’re seeking original visual art (excluding photography and the written word) in three inspiring categories: Landscapes (Wisconsin’s natural wonders), Life (wildlife, plants, or people in nature), and Learning (tools that help us explore outdoors). Each piece must be no larger than 6"x 6"x 6”.
Submissions are accepted through February 28, 2026, and selected works will be featured in gallery shows across Madison, Ashland, and River Falls from May to September 2026, followed by an online auction in the fall. Proceeds benefit the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program, supporting volunteers who advance land stewardship, community science, and nature education statewide. Your art can make a difference! Learn more at WiMasterNaturalist.org/tiny-art-show.
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| The Water Action Volunteers (WAV) stream monitoring program is an ongoing partnership between the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and nearly 50 local partner groups and organizations.
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