It's Convention week! We hope to see many of your familiar faces at the annual Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention this week in Stevens Point, WI. If you want to learn more about lakes and rivers but can't attend in person, we have info about virtual options below.

This event is also when we gather in person to celebrate our 2024 Wisconsin Volunteer Stream Monitoring Award recipients! Read their stories in our blog post linked below.

The Wisconsin Volunteer Stream Monitoring Awards recognize individuals and groups for their exemplary efforts in volunteer stream monitoring and related activities, such as their support of stream stewardship, commitment to developing partnerships, and/or sharing their skills and water quality data with others in their communities to benefit Wisconsin streams and rivers. Award recipients are nominated by their peers and selected by a committee of UW-Madison Extension and Wisconsin DNR staff.

We are thrilled to announce this year's award recipients!

Frank and Lynn Druecke - Outstanding Stream Volunteers

Maria Young - Outstanding Volunteer Coordinator

Katie Rademacher - Outstanding Volunteer Coordinator

Thank you Maria, Katie, Frank, and Lynn for all you do to monitor, protect, and restore our streams and rivers!

The awardees will be recognized at the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Each awardee receives a special handmade pottery plaque designed by WAV volunteer Heidi Hankley with the Crimson Artist Collective in Verona, WI.

Starting in early May, the DNR is switching to a new login system called MyWisconsin ID. Currently, WAV volunteers use a WAMS ID to log into the SWIMS database. MyWisconsin ID will replace your WAMS ID.

MyWisconsin ID is a more secure login system. It also allows individuals to access multiple online state services and systems using a single user ID and password, including the SWIMS database. Because the new login system is more secure (a great benefit for both you and the state of Wisconsin!), MyWisconsin ID will require multi-factor authentication (MFA) when logging in (more info on MFA below). Plus, MyWisconsin ID will have a helpline. That means if you have login issues, you’ll have better support.

Aside from a new method of logging in, nothing else in SWIMS will be changing. All your data will still be preserved, and the way you enter data will be the same. Everything in SWIMS will look, feel, and function the same as before. The only part changing is your method of logging in – and you will need to create that new login username and password.

If you use SWIMS to enter data, there are two actions we encourage you to take before May:

We will let you know when the switch over from WAMS to MyWisconsin ID has occurred. The date is tentatively set for early May but may change slightly. For now, please continue to use your WAMS ID to log into SWIMS until further notice.

We are grateful for your help in preparing for this change! If you have any questions or need assistance with SWIMS, please contact WAV staff at wav@extension.wisc.edu. 

It's not too late to register as a virtual attendee for the 2025 Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention, taking place March 26-28 this week! This annual statewide convention brings together professionals, students, community members, and businesses who love water. Virtual attendance cost is $100 and is available for select sessions as well as plenary speakers on Thursday and Friday. You must have the ability to use Zoom to join these events.

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.

Field Trip leader showing a sample to a participant on the "Beautiful Bogs" trip in 2024. Photo by Joe Riederer

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is offering 278 Field Trips in 2025 to explore Wisconsin’s lands, waters and wildlife with top-notch leaders. These Field Trips run April through October each year and highlight the best of Wisconsin’s natural world. They offer unique opportunities for all ages to explore Wisconsin’s lands, waters, and wildlife by foot, bike, and boat.

We highly recommend checking out their 2025 Field Trip Guidebook for opportunities to get outside and learn more about Wisconsin's streams and rivers and the natural world. Some trips fill up within minutes of registration opening, which this year will take place at noon on April 8th at WisConservation.org. You must become a NRF member to register. NRF encourages people who are interested in Field Trips to join or renew their NRF memberships in advance, and be ready on registration day at noon with a list of which trips they hope to attend.

Memberships and Field Trips support the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s mission to protect Wisconsin’s lands, waters, and wildlife and connect all people with nature.

Phone: (608) 331-0173

Email: wav@extension.wisc.edu

wateractionvolunteers.org

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram