CELEBRATE WORLD WATER DAY World Water Day is an international day of action advocating for sustainable management of our freshwater resources. Take part in a week of local events focused on water Join our week of water events March 18-25th: Saturday, March 18: Discover Starkweather Creek 10-11:30 a.m., Meet at the Goodman Community Center Wisconsin Master Naturalist Alex Singer will lead a family friendly walk to hidden natural areas along Starkweather Creek in the heart of Madison’s east side. Along the way you will learn about the water cycle and some of the ways water quality is tested. The Great Showerhead Giveaway, Part II 1-4 p.m., Meadowood Neighborhood Center, 5740 Raymond Road Pick up a free low-flow showerhead from Madison Water Utility (Madison residents only), then visit with tables from other organizations to get additional giveaways and learn how small changes in your water use can mean big changes for our lakes and rivers. Sunday, March 19: Restoration Work Party 9 a.m.-Noon, UW-Madison Arboretum Volunteers are invited to join our restoration work party. Please RSVP to [email protected] or (608) 265-5214. Effluent Ale Tasting & Irrigation Pilot Tour 2-4 p.m., Nine Springs Golf Course Clubhouse Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area present a tasting of the limited-production Nine Springs Effluent Pale Ale, beer produced using filtered effluent (treated wastewater) from the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant. Stay to tour our pilot program of effluent irrigation sprinklers on the golf course. Limited tastings available. Monday, March 20: Science on Tap 6:30-8 p.m., Ale Asylum Brewery Two UW-Madison scientists will field questions about water science and policy in Wisconsin. Grab a beer and bring your questions! Speakers: Trina McMahon, professor of bacteriology and civil & environmental engineering, UW-Madison; Adena Rissman, associate professor of environmental policy and management, UW-Madison. Find out more here. Wednesday, March 22: WORLD WATER DAY Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Tours 10 a.m., 2 p.m. (hardhat tour) and 5:15 p.m., Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1610 Moorland Rd In honor of the World Water Day theme—Why Wastewater?—we are offering a behind the scenes look at how we reclaim water (as well as other resources) from the waste which goes down your pipes. Registration required for hard hat tour: Click here to register Test the Waters, Madison Children’s Museum 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 100 N Hamilton St What sinks? What floats? How does water move through and around objects? Find out as you explore objects in water. Watershed Explorations, Madison Children’s Museum 2:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m., 100 N Hamilton St. Celebrate World Water Day by learning about watersheds and how they work. Look at lake water under the microscope and try your hand at fishing for bait minnows with nets. Friends of Lake Wingra Nature Hike 3-4:30 p.m., Lake Wingra A nature/history hike around the Monroe St area/ Wingra watershed., Please RSVP to [email protected] or 443-280-0823. Watershed Network Gathering: Communications and Behavior Change 5:30-7:30 p.m., Dane Co. Office of Lakes & Watersheds, 5201 Fen Oak Drive, Madison One the challenges of working on water quality issues is that achieving clean water goals relies in large part on voluntary behavior change. Well intentioned information and outreach programs aimed at fostering these behavior changes often measure themselves successful in terms outputs such as “number of brochures distributed” etc., but have failed over and over in achieving out- comes - that is, actually getting their ultimate goal of community adoption of the desired behaviors. Nevertheless, many well-intentioned programs continue to invest time and resources in informa- tion and outreach programs based on behavior change models that don’t work. Fortunately, there are tools and techniques for developing strategies that can work. This Watershed Network Gath- ering will give an overview of effective communications strategies, provide examples of successful strategies for overcoming barriers and building motivation for behavior change, and provide ex- amples of how these concepts have been applied. Click here to sign up. Thursday, March 23: Cheers to Water! A Happy Hour with River Alliance of Wisconsin There is no better way to celebrate clean water than to raise a pint of beer! Come meet the staff and learn about the work River Alliance of Wisconsin does to support clean, plentiful water in our state. Light refreshments will be served. RSVPs requested but not required. Click here to RSVP. Saturday, March 25: Interactive Rain Garden Workshop 9-11 a.m. • Cost: $10, Dane County Land and Water Resources Dept., 5201 Fen Oak Drive Presented by the Madison Area Municipal Stormwater Partnership. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY MARCH 15: ripple-effects.com. Restoration Work Party, UW Madison Arboretum 9 a.m.-Noon Volunteers are invited to join our restoration work party. Please RSVP to [email protected] or (608) 265-5214. Volunteer Work Day, Upper Sugar River Watershed Association 9 a.m.-Noon, 2517 Country View Rd, Verona Help USRWA restore the Sugar River Wetlands State Natural Area. Volunteers will help burn brush piles and continue removing invasives. A great event for all ages and abilities. RSVP to [email protected] or 920-850-6902. Hike the Headwaters,Token Creek Conservancy 10 a.m., 3667 Egre Road Come join us for a hike at the headwaters of the Madison chain of lakes, the Token Creek Conservancy in Windsor. This over 100-acre property is full of bubbling cold water springs and teeming with birds and animals, the best kept secret in Dane County. Meet at the Culver entrance at 3667 Egre Road (DeForest/Windsor) for a guided easy hike with Barb Bauer. Donuts with Dad: Water Storytime 10-11 a.m., Sequoya Public Library Saturday morning fun with stories, movies and snacks, especially for dads and their kids, hosted by the UW Water Library. Moms welcome too. Check out the Water Matters book display at Lakeview Public Library and World Water Day Information Station at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District all week during business hours. See all of these events on Facebook, and let your friends know you are attending! .