MCDS has partnered with the Rock River Coalition to adopt two stream sites and gather water quality data that will be entered into a public database, used by scientists and citizens to study water quality in Wisconsin. Our goal is to have one team of students collecting data at each of these sites. 

Below is more information from the River Rock Coalition website about the citizen volunteer stream monitoring program:

The Challenge

The Rock River Basin faces many challenges to maintaining water quality and quantity including extreme weather patterns and climate change, mounting pressure from urbanization, pollution from point and non-point sources, and threats posed by invasive species. Equally challenging have been efforts to involve the public in watershed management planning and project implementation. The Rock River Coalition believes that we all share responsibility and all have a role to play in meeting these challenges to clean water. Only by working collaboratively can we balance increasing societal demands on water with those of the environment.

Our Vision

The Rock River Coalition works to facilitate public engagement in watershed management through its volunteer stream monitoring program. Citizen participation is the cornerstone of the Rock River Coalition stream monitoring program. Established in 2002, the RRC has trained over 200 volunteers to “test the waters” using easy-to-learn methods developed by the state-wide Water Action Volunteers Program (WAV), a collaboration between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension (UWEX). Currently, the Rock River Coalition has over 80 volunteer stream monitors collecting water quality data throughout the Rock River Basin.

Expectations for MCDS students:

• Attend the Rock River Coalition training in May @ Waunakee Village Park (Sixmile Creek). At this training, we will learn  how to use the instruments to collect various forms of data and how to enter the data into the database. If you are unable to attend, you can attend one of the other general volunteer training sessions. 

• Collect data at least once per month, May-October. You can self-organize your team and choose dates that work with your schedules. It’s okay if you aren’t available every month, that’s why there are multiple people on each team. 

• Report on your team’s progress each month. We’ll set up a Google site where you can record your data, report on your progress, and stay connected with others at MCDS who are doing summer research projects. Prompts will be shared each month to help you build your website.

• Learn some science. We’ll have a couple of sessions over the summer with local scientists so that you can learn more about water systems in our local area. Stay tuned for details. We’ll also share links and resources throughout the summer.

• Make a poster for the MCDS Science Symposium in the fall. In the fall, you’ll work with your team to share your findings with the broader MCDS community. We want to show off your hard work, and give you practice with presentation skills.

Why should I participate?

• You'll be involved with a real science research project. Data collected can be used to help inform policy makers and scientists who make decisions regarding water quality in Wisconsin

• Learn skills that may be useful for future IA projects in IB Biology or Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)

• It's fun! You get to play outside and wade in a stream with your friends!

Questions?

Dr. Rachael Lancor, Research Program Coordinator (rlancor@madisoncountryday.org) 

Mr. Jake Eaton, Middle School Science Teacher (jeaton@madisoncountryday.org)