VSN has just released a comprehensive assessment of the Kickapoo River watershed based on its 10 years of citizen monitoring data and background information from the Wisconsin DNR.
Read the report here (all files are in PDF format):
Data was analyzed for each watershed, waterbody and station. The Kickapoo watershed was divided into five smaller watersheds as defined by the WDNR; Upper, Middle and Lower Kickapoo Watersheds, West Fork of the Kickapoo Watershed and Reads and Tainter Watershed.
Parameters monitored include temperature, core (dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, stream flow, and conductivity), nutrients (ammonia, nitrate and nitrite, phosphorous), macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs and critters), bacteria (fecal coliform, E. coli), and chemistry (hardness, magnesium, calcium, triazine, atrazine, and arsenic).
Data was assessed using WDNR and US Environmental Protection Agency water quality limits and recommendations. In most cases the data available was not extensive enough for a conclusive determination. As such the data was used to provide an indication of the watershed health.
Some notable quotes from the Watershed Assessment Report:
“The water quality data shows varying watershed health conditions. Some data shows no degradation, while other data showed evidence of human impact. Only a few streams had values that could be considered impaired by WDNR classification system.”
“Nutrients and bacteriological data showed the greatest number of values that met impairment levels. A large number of nutrient data points indicated impacts from human activity.”
“The indication of human impact reinforces that responsible land use by all land owners in the watershed is essential. It is vitally important that widespread implementation of agricultural and non-agricultural best management practices occur.”
VSN’s assessment revealed that continued monitoring in the watershed fills an important role in assessing the health of the watershed and should be continued and be more comprehensive.
Many thanks to Sarah Grainger, M.A. Sc., VSN’s former Water Quality Program Manager for analyzing the data and writing this report. VSN also appreciates John Conlon’s help with data manipulation and analysis and the cooperation of Wisconsin DNR personnel.
VSN’s Watershed Assessment was made possible by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Watershed Assessment
How Clean is Our Water?
VSN has just released a comprehensive assessment of the Kickapoo River watershed based on its 10 years of citizen monitoring data and background information from the Wisconsin DNR.
Watershed Assessment Report
Appendix A – Upper Kickapoo Watershed Analysis
Appendix B – West Fork Kickapoo Analysis
Appendix C – Middle Kickapoo Watershed Analysis
Appendix D – Reads-Tainter Watershed Analysis
Appendix E – Lower Kickapoo Watershed Analysis
Data was analyzed for each watershed, waterbody and station. The Kickapoo watershed was divided into five smaller watersheds as defined by the WDNR; Upper, Middle and Lower Kickapoo Watersheds, West Fork of the Kickapoo Watershed and Reads and Tainter Watershed.
Parameters monitored include temperature, core (dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, stream flow, and conductivity), nutrients (ammonia, nitrate and nitrite, phosphorous), macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs and critters), bacteria (fecal coliform, E. coli), and chemistry (hardness, magnesium, calcium, triazine, atrazine, and arsenic).
Data was assessed using WDNR and US Environmental Protection Agency water quality limits and recommendations. In most cases the data available was not extensive enough for a conclusive determination. As such the data was used to provide an indication of the watershed health.
A feature article in the January 19, 2012 Crawford County Independent announced VSN’s watershed assessment to the public and heralded the organization’s 12 years of watershed monitoring.
Some notable quotes from the Watershed Assessment Report:
“The water quality data shows varying watershed health conditions. Some data shows no degradation, while other data showed evidence of human impact. Only a few streams had values that could be considered impaired by WDNR classification system.”
“Nutrients and bacteriological data showed the greatest number of values that met impairment levels. A large number of nutrient data points indicated impacts from human activity.”
“The indication of human impact reinforces that responsible land use by all land owners in the watershed is essential. It is vitally important that widespread implementation of agricultural and non-agricultural best management practices occur.”
VSN’s assessment revealed that continued monitoring in the watershed fills an important role in assessing the health of the watershed and should be continued and be more comprehensive.
Many thanks to Sarah Grainger, M.A. Sc., VSN’s former Water Quality Program Manager for analyzing the data and writing this report. VSN also appreciates John Conlon’s help with data manipulation and analysis and the cooperation of Wisconsin DNR personnel.
VSN’s Watershed Assessment was made possible by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.