A Product of the 2013‐14 Monitoring Success Workgroup for the Water Division and USEPA Photo by Richard Hurd, Sunset at Big Spring, 05‐11‐2014 Water from Big Spring, in the University of Wisconsin‐Madison Arboretum, Wisconsin’s Water Quality MonitoringFlowing Strategy toward Lake2015 Wingra‐2020 on a spring evening at sunset Page 1 Wisconsin’s Water Monitoring Strategy 2015 to 2020 Water Quality Monitoring Coordination Team Team Sponsor Susan Sylvester, Water Quality Bureau Director Team Leader Tim Asplund, Monitoring Section Chief Monitoring Workgroup Steering Team Tim Asplund, Katie Hein, Lisa Helmuth, Ruth Person, Mike Shupryt Wisconsin Monitoring Workgroup and Contributors Citizen Monitoring: Kris Stepenuck, Laura Herman, Christina Anderson, Lindsey Albright Field Biologists: Mark Hazuga, Jim Amrhein, Mary Gansberg, Jim Kreitlow Fisheries Management: Tim Simonson, Lori Tate, Candy Schrank Groundwater Management: Mel Vollbrecht Lakes and Rivers: Carroll Schaal, Scott Van Egeren, Maureen Ferry Mississippi River Unit: John Sullivan, Sara Strassman, James Fischer Monitoring: Mike Shupryt, Katie Hein, Mike Miller, Tom Bernthal, Elizabeth Haber, Lisa Helmuth, Tom Bernthal Office of the Great Lakes: Andy Fayram, Donalea Dinsmore, Steve Galarneau Science Services: Matt Diebel, John Lyons, Ron Arneson Water Evaluation: Brian Weigel, Aaron Larson, Kristi Minahan, Water Resources Supervisors: Greg Searle, Paul LaLiberte, James Hansen Wastewater: Diane Figiel Water Use: Shaili Pfeiffer, Jeff Helmuth Watershed Management: Corinne Billings, Heidi Kennedy, Pat Trochlell, Cheryl Laatsch USEPA: Ed Hammer, Linda Holst, Pete Jackson EGAD #3200‐2016‐01 This document can be found on the WDNR Website at: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/surfacewater/monitoring.html The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. 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Wisconsin’s Water Monitoring Strategy 2015‐2020 Page 2 Wisconsin’s Water Monitoring Strategy 2015 to 2020 Contents Wisconsin’s 2015‐2020 Water Quality Monitoring Framework Summary .............................................. 11 Strategy Highlights ................................................................................................................................... 11 Wisconsin’s Monitoring Program Implementation Recommendations 2015‐2020 ................................. 11 Monitoring Section Strategic Implementation Areas ............................................................................... 12 Staffing Resources: .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Funding: ........................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Equipment: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Training: .......................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Sampling Procedures, Methods: ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Data Analysis Procedures: ............................................................................................................................................... 12 Information Technology Management: .......................................................................................................................... 12 Significant Changes in the 2015 Update .................................................................................................. 13 Section 1 Strategy Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 15 Section 1.1 Monitoring Strategy Goals and Objectives ............................................................................ 15 Section 1.2 Water Quality Bureau Strategic Plan .................................................................................... 16 Water Quality Strategy Vision and Mission .................................................................................................................... 16 Monitoring in Support of Goals and Performance Measures ......................................................................................... 16 Section 1.3 Characterization of Wisconsin Waters .................................................................................. 16 Rivers and Streams ‐ Natural Communities and Biological Assessments ....................................................................... 17 About the stream model ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Lakes and Flowages ‐ Natural Communities and Biological Assessments ...................................................................... 18 Section 1.4 Monitoring Providing Multi‐Program Support ...................................................................... 18 Baseline Monitoring – Statewide .................................................................................................................................... 21 Prescribed Monitoring – Statewide and District Collaboration ...................................................................................... 21 “Local Needs” ‐ District Initiated ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Section 2.0 Resource or Media‐Based Monitoring Study Descriptions ................................................................................ 24 Section 2.1 Monitoring Strategy for Rivers .............................................................................................. 25 Study Descriptions .................................................................................................................................... 25 Long Term Trend River Water Quality Monitoring Network .......................................................................................... 25 Biotic Integrity River Sites ............................................................................................................................................... 29 National Rivers and Streams Assessment – Probabilistic Study ..................................................................................... 31 Section 2.2 Monitoring Strategy for Streams ........................................................................................... 32 Study Descriptions .................................................................................................................................... 32 Wadeable Trend Reference Streams .............................................................................................................................. 32 Wisconsin’s Water Monitoring Strategy 2015‐2020 Page 3 Wisconsin’s Water Monitoring Strategy 2015 to 2020 Natural Community Stratified Random Monitoring Program ......................................................................................... 35 Targeted Watershed Approach – Streams, Lakes, Wetlands, and more ........................................................................ 36 Water Action Volunteers ‐ Stream Monitoring ............................................................................................................... 40 Stream Baseflow Monitoring .......................................................................................................................................... 42 Section 2.3 Monitoring Strategy for Lakes ............................................................................................... 44 Study Descriptions .................................................................................................................................... 45 Probabilistic Survey (National Lakes Assessment) .......................................................................................................... 45 Long Term Trend Lakes (LTT Lakes) ................................................................................................................................. 46 Aquatic Plant Reference Lakes ........................................................................................................................................ 48 Citizen Lake Monitoring Network ................................................................................................................................... 48 Satellite Monitoring ‐ Secchi ........................................................................................................................................... 50 Directed Lake Surveys ..................................................................................................................................................... 51 Lake Level Monitoring ....................................................................................................................................................