Discovery Farms' Trained Local Samplers Program

Discovery Farms are 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.  A component of the Discovery Farms Program is the Trained Local Samplers Program.  Currently three Discovery Farms are participating in this citizen stream monitoring effort.  At the Heisner, Bragger, and Koepke Farms local community members were asked by the producers to monitor stream quality over time.  These volunteers monitor a variety of water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, temperature, transparency, hardness, nitrates, conductivity, pH, flow, macroinvertebrate Biotic Index, and ammonia.  They also collect water samples that are shipped to the UW-Stevens Point Water and Environmental Analysis Laboratory to be analyzed for total suspended solids, and various forms of phosphorus and nitrogen.

Contact:
Kris Stepenuck
Citizen Stream Monitoring Program Coordinator
608.265.3887 or 608.264.8948
kris.stepenuck@ces.uwex.edu

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