Thursday
Concurrent Session 3
40 minutes
March 31, 2016 ~ 1:45-2:25 pm
Agenda subject to change.
Improving Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) aquatic invasive species (AIS) monitoring program has been supported by a strong network of volunteers and many partners. To expand these efforts, the DNR began a five year project in 2010 using statistically valid methods to collect baseline data and evaluate the rate of AIS spread within the state. Additionally, in 2015 the state completed pilot projects on streams to help identify priority locations for early detection AIS monitoring on streams. Learn how results from these projects on lakes and streams will inform the AIS monitoring strategy with the aim of improving early detection and rapid responses and also increasing volunteer participation.
Presenter:
Maureen Ferry, Statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring Lead, Wisconsin DNR
Citizen Scientists Help Identify Long-term Trends in Water Clarity Across the United States
Integrating limnological data collected by citizens, tribal groups, state and federal agencies, and research institutions across large spatial extents provides a unique opportunity to quantify temporal patterns of change. We analyzed data from more than 600 lakes with 22+ years of Secchi observations from a 17 state region of the United States using kernel-based time series clustering with dynamic time warping as a similarity measure to determine unique temporal Secchi patterns (e.g., increasing, decreasing, non-linear) and landscape and lake factors that influenced those patterns. We found a diverse set of temporal Secchi patterns, some of which would not have been identifiable using more traditional approaches. Our results from this analysis suggest that temporal patterns do not cluster spatially, indicating that local factors may be more important for determining temporal patterns than broad-scale regional landscape drivers. In other words, citizen science is very important!
Presenter:
Noah Lottig, Assistant Scientist, Trout Lake Station, UW-Madison
Statewide Aquatic Remote Sensing Program in Wisconsin
This presentation gives a brief overview of recent Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources activities associated with the remote sensing of water resources, including new capabilities to measure more water quality parameters in addition to water clarity (Secchi disk), utilization of image archives to examine trends in lake water quality and delineate relationships between environmental drivers (such as climatic conditions and land use) with changes in lake water quality, and interactive ways to present the satellite-derived data for public use. This program relies heavily on citizen-based monitoring data for satellite model calibration. See how broad-based participation provides an important linkage for public engagement in the State’s water resources protection.
Presenters:
Steven Greb, Research Scientist, Wisconsin DNR
Daniela Gurlin, Research Scientist, Wisconsin DNR
Think Outside the Lake
This session will focus on watershed management with a special emphasis on structures and land use modifications to reduce the inflow of nutrients and sediment into lakes and streams. Deer Lake has reduced its watershed phosphorous loading by 55% resulting in Secchi disc improvements of 300-400%. Trails and signage in our conservation areas provide opportunities to understand the relationship between the watersheds and the lake.
Presenter:
Jim Miller, Deer Lake Conservancy
Monitoring in the Dark
Seven bat species call Wisconsin home. Several species migrate to warmer climates for winter, while the others hibernate in caves and mines. The cave bats now face the threat of extinction from white-nose syndrome. Learn what must be done to protect them and how the bat program monitors the health and trends of Wisconsin’s bat population with the assistance of citizen scientists.
Presenter:
John P. White, Conservation Biologist, Wisconsin DNR
Project Budburst is an exciting citizen science project led by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and the Chicago Botanic Garden. The program has allowed tens of thousands of interested individuals and groups to observe, collect, and report data about seasonal changes in plants since 2007. NEON is also collaborating with The PhenoCam Network on Season Spotter, a new citizen science project that leverages the desire of the public to contribute to climate change research. Volunteers classify images from a network of automated remote digital cameras. Over 100K images have been classified since the project began in July 2015. Funding for both projects has been provided by the National Science Foundation. Learn more about this citizen volunteer opportunity!
Presenters:
Caleb Slemmons, Field Technician, NEON Inc.
Sandra Henderson, Science Educator, NEON Inc.
Lake Organization Capacity Analysis
The Wisconsin Lakes Partnership has been a model of statewide inland lake management for forty years. A network of hundreds of lake associations and districts are central to the Partnership’s success. Researchers from UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison have recently completed an analysis of these organizations to better understand where and when they formed. The research also looks at lake organization budgets and the distribution of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources lake grants to explore ways that we can measure and compare the work that they are doing. We will also look at ways that this information can help target new outreach and organizational assistance efforts to strengthen the Partnership.
Presenter:
Nick Hudson, Graduate Student in Agriculture and Applied Economics, UW-Madison
Skip to main content
