Equipment and Calendar

Monitoring Equipment and Calendar

Each student-teacher team performs seasonal rounds of monitoring at two or more monitoring locations within their selected stream. Sampling is done by all teams within the same 2-3 week period in spring, summer, and fall of each year. Most stream monitoring is performed when streams are wade-able and not affected by recent rain events.

How and when do we measure it?

Each student-teacher team performs seasonal rounds of monitoring at two or more monitoring locations within their selected stream. Sampling is done by all teams within the same 2-3 week period in spring, summer, and fall of each year. Most stream monitoring is performed when streams are wade-able and not affected by recent rain events.

Water Chemistry
  Soluble Reactive Phosphorus Ammonia Nitrogen Nitrate Nitrogen
Equipment Hach DR/850 or
 DR/900 Colorimeter
 		 Hach
DR/850 or DR/900
Colorimeter		 Hach DR/850  or DR/900
Colorimeter
Method Colorimetric,Ascorbic Acid Colorimetric, Salicylate Colorimetric, Cadmium Reduction
When Monitored Fall (September – October), Spring (May), Summer  (July – August)
Physical Parameters
  Stream Flow Temp. Transparency/
Turbidity		 Conductivity pH DO
Equipment   Floating Object YSI 55 or
YSI Pro 20i DO/Temp. Probe		 Transparency /Turbidity Tube, 60 cm Oakton EC Testr+ low Oakton pHTester
Method Floating Object Method Meter and thermistor Clear tube w/ secchi disk and drain valve Meter and electrode Meter and electrode Meter and polarographic sensor probe
When Monitored Fall (September – October), Spring (May), Summer  (July – August)
Habitat and Biota
  Stream Habitat In –stream Biotic Integrity Stream Corridor
Frogs Birds
Equipment Standardized schematic and inventory form Macro-
invertebrate taxonomic keys		 GPS units, thermometer GPS units, binoculars, field guides, CDs
Method USEPA Streamwalk
and WDNR WAV		 Biotic Index Calculation; WDNR WAV taxonomic key 5 min
Amphibian Calling Survey		 10 point counts; assisted by professional birder
When Monitored Summer Summer 3 times in April-June June
 

Sampling Schedule

Each student-teacher team performs seasonal rounds of monitoring at two or more monitoring locations within their selected stream. Sampling is done by all teams within the same 2-3 week period in spring, summer, and fall of each year. Most stream monitoring is performed when streams are wade-able and not affected by recent rain events.  All teams use standardized methods and professional-grade equipment. Monitoring protocols were modified from the SWRP manual (Lindbo, et al., 2003), the University of Wisconsin Extension/WDNR Water Action Volunteers (WAV) citizen stream monitoring program (UWEX/WDNR, 2010) and Howe, et al., (1997).

Date Activity  
no sampling since 2016 Amphibians  Teams listen for frogs three times at three points each time. Sampling dates are determined by overnight temperatures.
April 24 -
May 18		 Water Quality Teams monitor two stream stations for water quality
no sampling since 2016 Birds Each team monitors 10 birding locations adjacent to their stream over a 1-2 day period.
July 5 -
August 7		 Water Quality,  Habitat & Biota Teams monitor two stream stations for water quality. Stream habitat and macroinvertebrate survey are also done at this time.
September 18 - October 16 Water Quality Teams monitor two stream stations for water quality