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Water Action Volunteers: Online Introduction to Baseline Monitoring

Your First Step in Becoming a WAV Volunteer

Welcome to WAV!

Water Action Volunteers (WAV) is a volunteer stream monitoring program coordinated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Wisconsin DNR). We provide free training and equipment for people across Wisconsin to monitor and become stewards of the streams and rivers in their local communities.

WAV currently supports over 600 volunteer stream monitors across the state of Wisconsin. No experience is necessary to become a WAV volunteer! Our goal is to support people from all walks of life to participate in the scientific study and data collection of our wadeable streams in a meaningful way.

Completing the Online Introduction to Baseline Monitoring is your first step toward joining our dedicated volunteer network! You can complete this online course any time of the year, and then you will be ready to sign up for an in-person field training at a stream site in spring. Baseline monitoring field trainings are typically held mid-April through early June. Participants become active volunteer stream monitors immediately following the field training.

Why should I become a WAV volunteer?

Have fun outside in nature and connect with the natural world.
Learn about water quality and aquatic life in your local stream.
Collect valuable scientific data to inform stream management decisions.

“Actually standing in a waterway helps remind me of the power and wonder of nature. Putting my feet and hands in the river for the monitoring is unique from canoeing or just looking at the water.”

-2023 WAV stream monitoring volunteer

Who can volunteer?

Anyone interested in science, the environment, or learning more about streams and water quality would make a great volunteer stream monitor. Current volunteers include:

Individuals and families
Sporting groups
Schools and youth groups
Community organizations

There is no cost to participate in the WAV program - we just ask for your time! We loan stream monitoring kits to volunteers to use for the duration of their time monitoring with us. Some volunteers monitor for 1-2 years, while others contribute to long-term monitoring by returning to collect data on their stream for 10 or 20 years! This long term data is an invaluable resource to help us observe trends and changes in stream health over time.

The role of a WAV volunteer

As a volunteer with the WAV program, you will be expected to:

Complete this initial online training course.
Attend an in-person training session in April - early June for hands-on learning of the methods.
Create an account in the Wisconsin DNR's Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS) database.
Collect data monthly from May to October for your site(s). Some special monitoring projects’ schedules vary from this timeline.
Enter your data every month into the SWIMS database.

Connect with a local WAV Coordinator

The WAV program is often offered locally through not-for-profit natural resource organizations and local or county agencies. These local WAV Coordinators assist the statewide WAV program staff at UW-Madison Extension by providing local trainings and support to the volunteers in their area. Search for a local WAV Coordinator active in your county.

“I’ve been able to contribute to the watershed’s data set. That makes me proud as a person in this community.”

- 2023 WAV stream monitoring volunteer

To learn more about WAV, check out our website and view our story map to hear stories from local stream monitoring volunteers about their experiences protecting and monitoring their local streams.

Ready to learn about stream health?

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