Monitors play a key role in establishing baseline data for many sites and stretches of the Chippewa River. This data has proven instrumental in determining where to spend limited conservation dollars and in assessing river health.
The goal is to find a least one Citizen Monitor for every stream, creek and ditch that flows into the Chippewa River and to continue monitoring over the course of many years. The more monitors that we have the easier it gets for all of us.

Choose from 3 Monitoring Activities,
We offer several activities (listed below) that have different time commitments. All activities are appropriate for teens, families and adults.

Standard Monitoring Ten minutes a week and after each rainstorm monitor one site with a transparency tube, tape measure and a rain gage from April through September. This activity is easy to do and requires about 10 minutes of training. Equipment: T-tube, tape measure, rain gage, nutrient test kit (optional)
River Transect One afternoon in June, July and August monitor 10-20 sites following a stretch of river recording measurements at each bridge down a stretch of river. This activity is easy to do and requires about 10 minutes of training. Equipment: T-tube, bucket with rope, vehicle, nutrient test kit (optional)
Biological Monitoring A weekend in the fall collect samples of river bugs from a river site with a kick net, detail physical site characteristics and then identify bugs with a stereoscope. This activity requires training contact CRWP staff for training opportunities. Equipment: Kick net, collection bottles, thermometer, tape measure, t-tube vials, petri dishes, dissecting scope, camera)

Contact the Chippewa River Watershed to become a Citizen Monitor.