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Water Quality Monitoring

Sheboygan County LWCD Buffer Strip Program Summary with Photos LWCD Buffer Strip Water Quality Testing Data Effects of Best Management Practice Implementation by the LWCD in Otter Creek 1990-2002 Water Action Volunteers Monitoring Programs Milwaukee & Sheboygan River Basins Discovery Farms Wisconsin Great Lakes Beach Reports The State of the Sheboygan River CURRENT EVENTS

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY LWCD WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM

Sheboygan County Land & Water Conservation Department-June 2006

Over the years hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in water quality improvement efforts throughout Sheboygan County.  How do we know if these improvement efforts are effective in cleaning up our lakes and streams?  To date very limited information is available, and difficult to find for the public.  The Land & Water Conservation Department has constructed a water quality monitoring  program on the LWCD website.  This monitoring program is intended to provide public access to and contain sites where water quality monitoring is currently being conducted and links to monitoring data information and results.  Information concerning volunteer and student water quality monitoring contacts, workshops, training, and events will also be provided.  The following are components of the program.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY LWCD BUFFER STRIP PROGRAM SUMMARY WITH PHOTOS

An environmental resource assessment of the Sheboygan County LWCD buffer strip program, which began in 2000.  A resource evaluation criteria model was utilized to assess LWCD installed vegetated buffer strips.  Annual and total program reductions for phosphorous, nitrogen and sediment have been calculated for each vegetated buffer strip site.  In addition the annual and total program length and acreage of each site has been calculated.

LWCD BUFFER STRIP WATER QUALITY TESTING DATA

EFFECTS OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IMPLEMENTATION BY THE LWCD IN OTTER CREEK 1990-2002

U.S. Geological Survey and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Influence of BMP’s on Water Quality.  Sampling results indicate an overall improvement in water quality as a result of best management practice implementation in the watershed.  Base-flow concentrations were significantly reduced for total suspended solids and BOD.  These reductions were most likely caused by the installation of streambank fencing reducing the number of livestock in the stream, barnyard-runoff control systems, manure storage facilities, and milk house wastewater treatment systems.  LWCD personnel assessed each of these BMP’s and felt that the most effective BMP’s for total suspended solids reduction were the installed buffer strips which provide an area for solids to settle before reaching Otter Creek, and streambank fencing that allows for growth of vegetation on the streambank, reducing streambank erosion.  The entire report can be found at (water.usgs.gov/pubs/sir/2005/5009).

WATER ACTION VOLUNTEERS MONITORING PROGRAMS-MILWAUKEE & SHEBOYGAN RIVER BASINS

The Pigeon River Water Action Volunteers began stream monitoring in 1996 in Sheboygan and Manitowoc Counties.  The volunteers monitor sites along Fisher Creek, Spring Creek, Meeme Creek, and the Pigeon River.  They monitor temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, habitat and biotic index on a seasonal basis (May-October).  Many monitors also assess precipitation on a daily basis and have built up a tremendous database of precipitation records for the watershed.  To learn more about the monitoring results, go to the citizen stream monitoring database at (clean-water.uwex.edu/wav/monitoring/basins/milshebasins.htm).

DISCOVERY FARMS

Real working Wisconsin farms in different geographic areas, facing different environmental challenges.  The Discovery Farms program takes a real-world approach to finding the most economical solutions to overcoming the challenges environmental regulations place on farmers.  Saxon Homestead Farm and Soaring Eagle Dairy in southern Manitowoc County are two nearby farms where water quality monitoring equipment was installed in 2004.  Major focus of the research will be evaluating nutrient management challenges of farming the dense clay soils of eastern Wisconsin including the effects of subsurface tile lines.  Research will also provide for education and communications among the agricultural community, consumers, researchers, and policy-makers to better identify and implement effective environmental management practices that are compatible with profitable agriculture.  Visit Discovery Farms.

WISCONSIN GREAT LAKES BEACH REPORTS

Latest Health Advisories for Kohler Andrea State Park Beaches, Amsterdam Beach, Blue Harbor Beach, Deland Park Beach, General King Park Beach, KK Road Beach, & Van Ess Road Beach. 2003 was the beginning of the Wisconsin coastal beach program.  The program is a collaboration between state and local environmental and health agencies to monitor recreational waters for health risks (testing for E.coli) to help people make informed choices when they go to the beach.  Water quality data from Sheboygan county beaches and 100 other Wisconsin Great Lakes beaches are listed on the Beach Health website.

THE STATE OF THE SHEBOYGAN RIVER BASIN

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  The report provides an overview of land and water resource quality.  Identifies challenges facing our resources and accomplishments since the 1999 report.  The report also outlines recommended actions the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and its many partners can take over the next few years to conserve and restore our natural resources throughout the Sheboygan River Basin.  The report can be found at:  (www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/Sheboygan).

CURRENT EVENTS

None at the present time.