A publication of the Rock River Coalition in cooperation with the Rock River Stormwater Group Fall 2020 Volume 23, Number 2 Look Inside Friends of Badfish Creek Watershed: Page 2 RRC President’s Message RRC Organizational Tracking Down E. Coli Bacteria Assessment Funding from James By Brooke Alexander Dutton Foundations Friends of Badfish Creek made to divert it instead to Page 3 Watershed became the Badfish Creek. Since then, Restoration Pleasant first chapter of Rock River wastewater treatment has Valley Branch E coli Tracking cont. Coalition in 2007. This year, vastly improved and the Friends of Badfish Creek water quality of the effluent Page 4 Watershed began to conduct discharged is comparable RRSG: Protecting Our analysis on concerning levels to that of the surface water Home Waterways Salt Reduction: Jefferson of E. coli to track down the it joins. However, the water County source. The following story quality is still monitored and interview with member closely. Page 5 and unofficial director, Lynne Becoming the Maunesha The Rock County Health Diebel, tells the story. River Alliance Department monitors E. JCWA Updates Badfish Creek is a tributary coli in the lower reach Page 6 to the Yahara River of the Badfish, the lower Farmers, Ranchers characterized by its crafty Yahara River and other Improve Water Quality currents, wide floodplain Rock County lakes and RR Clean-up Goes High and unique relationship to streams to ensure the Tech Madison’s sewerage system. safety of recreators. In Page 7 It was adopted by a group 2018, Rock County became Trees Cleared From of energetic individuals in Paul Garrison (foreground) and Ralph Erickson (back) sampling on February concerned about rising Yahara River 2006 who formed ‘Friends 11, 2020. This was the first sampling date of the Friends of Badfish Creek E. coli levels in streams Membership Form of Badfish Creek Watershed’ Watershed’s Microbial Source Tracking Project on the Badfish Creek and the and rivers, including lower Yahara River. Page 8 (FBCW), becoming Rock Badfish Creek. The county Tall Pines Conservancy, River Coalition’s first chapter her experience paddling past the creek and that adds didn’t have the resources Oconomowoc in 2007. The unofficial to search for the actual Watershed Project with her husband across the to the feeling of isolation,” Welcome Sue Josheff, director of the organization Driftless Area from Minnesota says Lynne. It’s a quiet source of the E. coli so Rick new Board Member is Stoughton resident, Lynne to Wisconsin, as well as wildlife corridor for herons, Wietersen, Rock County’s Time to Renew! Diebel. Lynne is the author three other books. Now she eagles, hawks and other birds Environmental Health of two Minnesota paddling spends time working with the and animals. Director, contacted FBCW guidebooks and a book about community to protect one for support. Badfish Creek originates as of the hundreds of streams the Oregon Branch northwest FBCW is a group of local that she has paddled: Badfish of the Village of Oregon. As it citizens who care for the Creek, tackling the most flows south it collects effluent creek. They’re attentive to recent threat of E. coli. (treated discharged water) water quality, habitat, and Badfish Creek is a popular from the Oregon and Madison the needs of recreators on place to canoe and kayak all municipal water treatment the creek–as committed to year around. “It’s close to plants. The Oregon treatment Badfish Creek as herons to Madison […] and it’s not at plant neighbors Badfish Creek water. The group responds all developed from Old Stage but the Madison Metropolitan as needs arise or as its Road down to the Yahara,” Sewerage District (MMSD) members raise concerns. says Lynne. The natural kinks facilities are much further FBCW has spent much effort and corners of the stream north of the headwaters. controlling invasive species, have been straightened out Effluent from MMSD is raising awareness to the by channelization in its upper pumped through four miles history and ecology of the reach, but on its last jaunt to of pipeline and five miles creek, and recently installing a new boat launch at Old Jefferson, WI 53549-1976 WI Jefferson, the Yahara River, the Badfish of ditch in order to divert Return Service Requested Service Return Stage Road. The new launch 864 Collins Rd Collins 864 is squirmier than a worm it from the lower Yahara on a hook. There are riffles chain of lakes. Before the site was originally just a parking lot for people that PERMIT NO. 7 NO. PERMIT and bends on this segment diversion was built in 1958 In cooperation with cooperation In wanted to hike the public JEFFERSON, WI JEFFERSON, that make paddling it an the effluent flowed into the Jefferson County County Jefferson land. “We realized that with U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S. adventure. Along the way the Yahara lakes. The nutrient- NONPROFIT ORG. NONPROFIT banks are rooted with trees. rich effluent caused odors “The floodplain is wide so it’s and significant algal growth in Story continued on Page 3. marshy for a long distance the lakes, so the decision was Rock River Coalition President’s Message In these challenging times, it’s in Dodge County and to continue for your continued support of our important to highlight bright spots our data visualization efforts. We’ve small-but-mighty organization and its and people who are caring and embarked on a long-term strategic important mission. empathetic – our healthcare workers, planning exercise starting with an our public officials, and most “organizational assessment” with UW- Americans who are trying to keep us Extension and Wisconsin Department Mission healthy and safe. of Natural Resources support (many of you will be hearing more about this For the Coalition, that has come in Eric Compas “To educate and bring together initiative this winter). the form of massive support from our people of diverse interests to protect RRC Board President membership, donors, and grantors. Becca is transitioning into a new role and improve the economic, [email protected] Double and triple thanks to everyone as Executive Director of the Rock environmental, cultural, and recre- 920-397-9821 who has helped our organization stay River Coalition, and we’ll be hiring a ational resources of the Rock River afloat and keep our mission alive in new Stream Monitoring Coordinator Basin in Wisconsin” 2020. this winter. PRESIDENT: The significant break in stream All of these capacity-building Eric Compas monitoring this summer has given initiatives will allow the Coalition to [email protected] us time to tackle other initiatives. expand its efforts and communicate With Becca’s team of grant writers, about basin issues. we have been successful in bringing DIRECTORS: Stay safe everyone and thanks again in new funding to expand our efforts Patricia Cicero, Treasurer Joe Zakovec, Past President Montgomery Baker Susan Josheff Ashley Roscoe, Student Rep. Rock River Coalition to Conduct Organizational Assessment Executive Director Becca Dymzarov By Becca Dymzarov, RRC Executive Director [email protected] Over the next nine months, Rock River Coalition plans to conduct an organization assessment to identify our strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for organizational growth. In a continuously changing landscape, we Stream Monitoring Coordinator: understand the need to take a deeper look at how the Rock River Coalition currently serves the community and to identify new areas where our services are needed. As a result, I am thrilled to announce that Rock River Coalition is in the process of establishing several groups to Data Visualization & focus on organizational development. These teams will be charged with providing an assessment of current and past Community Project Assistant Rock River Coalition activities and to identify new opportunities across the Rock River Basin. (currently open) Through structured leadership, we intend to focus on enhancing our ability to accomplish our mission to educate and RRC Administrative Assistant provide opportunities for people of diverse interests to work together to improve environmental, recreational, cultural Shannon Batzko and economic resources of the Rock River Basin. RRC Bookkeeper Tara Callis RRC Address: Rock River Coalition Awarded Funding from James E. Dutton Foundation 864 Collins Road The Rock River Coalition recently received a grant for $10,000 from the James E. Dutton Foundation, based in Merrill, Jefferson, WI 53549-1976 Wisconsin. The James E. Dutton Foundation, Inc. is a Section 501 (c) (3) charitable private foundation established in 920-541-6766 2005 to honor the memory of Jim Dutton. Jim spent his early years studying and enjoying wildlife while teaching others www.rockrivercoalition.org to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors. These grants provide funds to programs that benefit wildlife, animal causes, the environment, and natural resources. The Rock River Coalition mission is to educate and provide opportunities for people Send change of address to: of diverse interests to work together to improve environmental, recreational, cultural and economic resources of the Rock [email protected] River Basin. Newsletter Editor: The James E. Dutton Foundation funding will enable the Rock River Coalition to continue its award-winning stream Suzanne Wade, 608-334-4517 monitoring program, working to improve stream water quality in the Rock River Basin using its over 200 dedicated [email protected] and trained volunteers. Rock River Coalition volunteer stream