Volunteers learn how to measure dissolved oxygen using a Hach D.O. test kit during a WAV Master Naturalist training. Photo by Rachael Lewandowski-Sarette. 

For the past 30 years, WAV has engaged adults and youth in the collection of water quality data useful for managing the health of Wisconsin’s 86,000+ miles of streams and rivers. Though we love wading into streams to assess stream health, we also know this is not the only way to keep our waters healthy!

Aside from stream monitoring and data collection, volunteers can take other actions to steward our shared waters, like adopting a storm drain or learning about water level patterns. Check out the titles in this month's newsletter to learn 4 different actions you can take to keep our waters healthy!

Whether you are at home or in the field, there is something for you!

Volunteers in Lake Tomahawk search for aquatic invasive species during 2026 Snapshot Day. Photo by Stephanie Bouismenue.

The results are in for Snapshot Day 2026!

On August 8, 2026, almost 200 people who love Wisconsin’s waters came together for the 13th annual Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day—a statewide search for aquatic invasive species (AIS). From rivers and streams to lakes and wetlands, volunteers fanned out across 125 different waterbodies in Wisconsin, helping monitor the health of the places they care about most.

This year, volunteers found AIS in waters where they had not previously been reported, helping to expand the known range of aquatic invasive species. Amazing work for ONE day! 

Save the date for next year's Snapshot Day on August 14, 2027 to join the search! 

Interested in monitoring for AIS throughout the year? Checkout Project Riverine Early Detectors (Project RED) to learn how you can get involved!

Map showing streamflow drought status and forecasts. Graphic from the RiverDroughtCast website. 

One of the 6 elements of stream health WAV volunteers monitor for is streamflow or the volume of water moving past a cross-section of a stream over a set period time. As Wisconsin is currently experiencing varying levels of drought across the state, some volunteers in Northern Wisconsin may have noticed extremely low streamflow this year. There’s actually a name for that: streamflow drought!

According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s River DroughtCast, “streamflow drought occurs when streamflow at a particular location drops to levels that are unusually low for the time of year…[based] on the historical record for each site.” Streamflow drought can even occur during wetter seasons ー as long as levels are unusually low for that site, it is classified as streamflow drought.

As WAV volunteers may know, streamflow is important to water quality and aquatic habitat. When streamflow drought occurs, rivers, streams, and wetlands shrink or dry out, negatively impacting the aquatic habitats they hold. For example, this year’s drought conditions in Wisconsin have left our state’s native and endangered mussels stranded on stream banks due to low water levels. 

To learn more about streamflow drought and to see weekly forecasts of streamflow drought at select streams, check out the What is streamflow drought? website and the River DroughtCast tool. 

Image show examples of how to improve shoreline health. Graphic from the Score My Shore Shore Evaluation Survey website.

Do you or a friend or family member own land along a stream or river? The Healthy Lakes and Rivers Score My Shore - Shoreland Evaluation Survey helps shoreland property owners evaluate their property’s health. The free easy-to-use online survey walks you "through simple questions about what you see and do as you walk from your driveway and house (Upland Zone), through the nearshore area (Transition Zone) and look into the water (In-Water Zone)."

Based on your answers, you will receive suggestions for improvements that are specific for your property, including low-cost actions.  

Why does this matter?

Maintaining a healthy shoreline has many positive benefits not only for the property owner, but also water quality and surrounding habitats. A few benefits include:

Check out this resource highlight by Extension Lakes to dive deeper into what your property can tell you about lake health using the Score My Shore survey. 

Assessing shoreline habitat is one way to care for our streams and rivers. The Healthy Lakes and Rivers Program also provides grants and technical support to owners who want to take steps to improve their shoreline habitat. Head on over to their website to learn more!

Graphic from the Wisconsin Stormwater Week website. 

Starting Sat. Sept. 19th and running through Sun. Sept. 27th, WI Stormwater Week is an awareness campaign that aims to inform, educate, and engage Wisconsin residents on the topic of stormwater pollution prevention. This includes FREE educational webinars on Tuesday, Sept. 22 - Thursday, Sept. 24 @ 6 PM!

This year’s webinars include:

Head on over to the WI Stormwater Week website to learn more and register for webinars!

Looking for more ways to get involved with WI Stormwater Week? This year's Call to Action for WI residents is to get involved with a local municipality or an organization’s Adopt-a-Storm Drain Program! Maintaining an adopted neighborhood storm drain is easy and fun! 

Submit a stream monitoring question to WAV for a chance to have it answered in next month's newsletter! 

Help preserve and protect Wisconsin’s streams

Water Action Volunteers Program (WAV)

Phone: (608) 331-0173

Email: wav@extension.wisc.edu

https://wav.extension.wisc.edu/

The Water Action Volunteers (WAV) stream monitoring program is an ongoing partnership between the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, in collaboration with over 50 local groups and organizations.