Happy New Year!

Before we jump into all the wonderful things ahead, we'd like to take a moment to recognize the contributions of the WAV network to Wisconsin's streams and rivers last year.

In 2024, WAV volunteers monitored 540 stream sites across Wisconsin. Over 490 stream volunteers, in addition to their monitoring teammates, submitted stream data to the DNR's surface water database. When looking at baseline stream monitoring, nutrient sampling, continuous temperature monitoring with thermistors, and aquatic invasive species monitoring, WAV volunteers completed 3,881 fieldwork events in 2024!

Behind these numbers is a diverse community of Wisconsin residents who care deeply about their lands and waters. We hope you are able to join us again in 2025 to monitor and steward your local streams!

By Emily Heald, Extension Rivers Educator

The Water Action Volunteers (WAV) program relies on community-driven data collection to assess water quality across Wisconsin. Volunteers monitor water conditions at hundreds of sites, gathering essential data on parameters like temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pollutants. However, this vast dataset can be overwhelming to process and interpret without proper tools.

Ben Bradford, a researcher in the Department of Entomology at UW-Madison, has dedicated much of his career to bridging this gap between data and understanding. He combines his passion for programming, web design, and environmental science to create intuitive data visualizations that help volunteer monitoring programs make sense of their data. You are likely familiar with his work on WAV’s Stream Data Dashboard!

We invite you to read our spotlight on Ben, and how he came to be involved in WAV!

Wondering what to do after the regular monitoring season wraps up? Join us this winter for our annual Winter Water Talks webinar series! Webinars are co-hosted by the Water Action Volunteers Program and the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network.

Biology and Identification of Wisconsin Crayfishes

Friday, February 14
12:00-1:00pm

Description: This webinar will cover the biology of crayfishes found in Wisconsin and their importance in freshwater ecosystems.  Topics will include growth, diet, and habitat preferences of crayfishes and the impact of invasive crayfishes in the state.  We will also discuss the identification of Wisconsin's nine species of crayfishes.

Speaker: Dr. Chris Taylor is a "semi-retired" aquatic biologist and Emeritus Curator of Fishes and Crustaceans at the Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  Chris worked at the Illinois Natural History Survey for 31 years where he conducted research on the systematics, ecology, and conservation of non-game fishes and crayfishes and oversaw the growth and care of INHS's museum collections of fishes and crustaceans.  Chris has published over 90 peer-reviewed papers, including 4 books on the identification and ecology of crayfishes in the Midwest, the fishes of Illinois, and crayfishes in Kentucky and Alabama.  Chris continues to stay active in the conservation of native biodiversity and freshwater habitats. 

We hope you will join WAV staff at the 2025 Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention this year, taking place March 26-28 at the Stevens Point Holiday Inn and Convention Center! This statewide convention brings together professionals, students, community members, and businesses who love water. 

With the theme: The Power of Words: Working for Our Waters, this event will showcase the impact our communications have, especially when advocating for our waters. By raising awareness, promoting conservation efforts, and crafting compelling messages, words can inspire action and drive positive change to protect our water resources for future generations.

Wednesday, March 26 (workshops)

Aquatic Plant Ecology and Identification

Troublemaker Taxonomy: Identification tips for inconspicuous invertebrates

Crafting your Water Stories

Thursday, March 27 (sessions and speakers)

From Wood to Watercraft: Dugout Canoes of Wisconsin

Trout Unlimited's Trout in the Classroom

Better Know a River: The Wisconsin River and Wisconsin's Geologic History

Many Rivers to Cross: Oneida County Stream Crossing Project

Critters are Key

Partnerships in Watershed Education in Southeastern Wisconsin

Friday, March 28 (sessions, speakers and workshops)

Wonderful Waters of Wisconsin: Tools to Protect Healthy Watersheds and High Quality Waters

Drought, Dams, and Mussels: What's at risk when there's not enough water?

Taxonomy, Natural History and Conservation of Wisconsin Fireflies

The Buzz about Mosquitoes and their Management

An Invitation to Wonder: Waubesa Wetlands film screening  (workshop)

Phone: (608) 331-0173

Email: wav@extension.wisc.edu

wateractionvolunteers.org

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