Why do we monitor the quality of the river water?
We partner with WAV Water Action Volunteers to collect data. The data informs decision making about real life resource management issues which impact water resources. All data goes into Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS) database. If you click the link, it will open in a new tab.
River Data Quality
- The image at left is from the Stream Monitoring Data Dashboard
- YRPC volunteers monitor 3-4 sites on the river and send water samples to WAV
- We need volunteers to help with river monitoring.
- To volunteer, you will need some on-line training from WAV
Actual YRPC Measurements
We monitor the following. Click the link to learn more on each subject. Note the link will open in a new window so you don’t lose your way back here.
- dissolved oxygen, (click on picture below for a link to the pdf.)
- water and air temperature, (click on picture below for a link to the pdf.)
- the stream flow rate (click on picture below for a link to the pdf.)
- the transparency of the water. (click on picture below for a link to the pdf.)
- Macroinvertebrate Biotic Index
We Need Volunteers
Monitoring the river should not need more than 4-6 hours including training. We can help step you through the process. Please send a note with your name, phone number and email at the contact link below.
INVASIVE SPECIES MONITORING
Volunteers propagated and distributed beetles to help control Purple Loosestrife which is native to Europe and Asia. Yellow Iris was cut at the Spooner hatchery
Purple Loosestrive impacts
- Dense growth along shoreland making it difficult to access open water
- Provides unsuitable shelter, food, and nesting habitat for native animals
- Overtakes habitat and outcompetes native aquatic plants
- Dense root systems change the hydrology of wetlands
Assisting Friends in the Watershed
Save the Hollow
YRPC supports concerned Shell Lake citizens opposed to the commercial Development of three city lots on the South Side.
Protecting the lots guards against erosion into Sawyer Creek Springs, headwaters to a Class I trout stream tributary to the Yellow River.
Washburn County Campground Ordinance
YRPC supports amending the Washburn County Zoning Campground Ordinance. Amendment is a good first step in maintaining campground development while protecting vulnerable sites. YRPC supports stricter wastewater disposal rules.