Black Earth Creek Habitat Snapshot Day

press release: Come spend a morning streamside gathering "citizen science" and help the trout of Black Earth Creek in the process! Join River Alliance, the Black Earth Creek Watershed Association, Dane County, Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, and the Wisconsin DNR to participate in Black Earth Creek Habitat Snapshot Day.

The objective of this FREE, single-day event is to engage citizen supporters of Black Earth Creek in gathering data on the stream's condition, which will be used to prioritize future stream work projects, to the benefit of water quality and the wild trout population. Volunteers should come expecting to have a good time, and to tromp along the banks of a gently-flowing trout stream, making observations about the stream and the corridor surrounding it. Afterward, volunteers will gather at Festge County Park for a BBQ lunch. Beer will be provided by our generous sponsor, Great Lakes Brewing Company! The event is rain or shine.

All necessary training, equipment, maps, directions, and support will be provided by Dane County and Wisconsin DNR staff. Volunteers will meet in the morning for a brief discussion on how, where, and why volunteers will be monitoring Black Earth Creek for this event. Volunteers will then conduct an on-stream walk-through with trainers, prior to breaking up into pairs and setting off to monitor an approximately ½-mile long stretch of stream that has been assigned to them. Data that will be collected includes stream habitat and physical characteristics, presence/absence of aquatic invasive species, status of habitat improvements, impairments, and more. Volunteers should have the ability to walk for at least a mile, along potentially uneven ground adjacent to the stream. Children under 18 must be supervised by an adult.

Volunteers should bring clothes that can get wet and/or dirty, drinking water, sunscreen, and bug repellent. Waders, wading boots, and/or pants and shoes that can be waded in are encouraged, but not necessary (shorts are discouraged, due to the potential presence of stinging nettle and wild parsnip). Cameras/smart phones and GPS units are also encouraged, but not necessary.

Advance registration required.

Website: https://www.wisconsinrivers.org/events/display/item/habitat-snapshot

Contact: email - info@wisconsinrivers.org    phone - (608)257-2424

 Join us and partners Black Earth Creek Watershed Association, Dane County, River Alliance of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin DNR. The event is rain or shine.

Details:

Where

: (In order of the day’s events)  

• 8:00 a.m., meet at Rosemary Garfoot Library (2107 Julius St, Cross Plains, WI 53528 for brief training

• 9:00 a.m., on-stream assessment walk-through with trainers, then break into monitoring teams and disperse to assigned stream reach in Black Earth Creek watershed (Black Earth, Garfoot, Vermont, or Brewery creeks).

• 12:30 p.m., convene for post-event BBQ lunch and beverages at Festge County Park (4894 Scherbel Rd, Cross Plains, WI 53528).