Update: 3/25/2020

First, I hope that you are all well.

I would like to share a message from Peggy Compton, our Statewide Water Action Volunteer Coordinator.

“Dear Water Action Volunteers Monitors and Partners,

The ever-changing guidelines and restrictions relating to COVID-19 are far-reaching across our lives. Recent developments have caused the Department of Natural Resources and the UW System to restrict staff travel and require working remotely. Most Department monitoring activities have been suspended until further notice, including water quality monitoring. The Governor’s announcement yesterday further restricts travel and activities of all residents of Wisconsin.

Because of these developments, please discontinue all WAV monitoring and activities that require travel and/or contact with others who are not part of your household.” 

As you may have seen, Gov. Tony Evers Safer at Home order went into effect March 24^th, which orders all Wisconsinites to stay at home unless the activity is considered essential. Although it pains me to say so, stream monitoring is not essential. All public and private gatherings of any number of people that are not part of a single household or living unit are prohibited.

I’m really looking forward to gardening, blooming Pasque flowers, an influx of migrating birds and all of the other wonderful things that spring brings. Usually this means we can also get into our streams and start monitoring. I imagine that you are all itching to get outside as much as possible because that is how I feel.

But for the time being, in compliance with the Governor’s #SaferAtHome order and to do our part in attempting to stem the spread of COVID-19 and keep you and your families safe, we ask monitoring partners who have to travel or do not live together not to monitor your stream in April.

Effective Tuesday, March 24^th for all Yahara WINs nutrient monitors, the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District will not accept nutrient samples until further notice.

The County Coordinators and I will not be distributing equipment and supplies at this time.

Please continue to stay tuned for more information about stream monitoring and our events as the days unfold. I will continue to send out updates on stream monitoring and other Rock River Coalition events. We will also be updating our Facebook page and website.

I will be working remotely, so I am available via email, if you have any questions.

Thank you again for your commitment to stream stewardship!

Becca, becca@rockrivercoalition.org

Our mission is to educate and provide opportunities for people of diverse interests to work together to improve environmental, recreational, cultural and economic resources of the Rock River Basin.

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