Our Mission

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.

Environmental
We provide many ways to engage with the environmental resources of the region. Our stream monitoring program provides data about the water quality and quantity of our water sources. We additionally work with several counties for Aquatic Invasive Species prevention. And we provide educational opportunities for everyone to learn and engage with the environmental resources of the Rock River Basin.
Recreational
There are many ways to interact with water resources and we aim to provide engaging opportunities to do so. For example, we partner with several different organizations to provide paddling and boating events including Color in the Outdoors, WI Salt Wise, and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. We believe that everyone should be able to connect with the outdoors and waterways. We aim to provide the opportunities and community for diverse groups of people to engage this way.
Cultural
Culture can be defined as the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a community. This is a broad term. But by working with communities and being a part of them, we improve awareness about how central our water resources are. This awareness shifts the communities actions and inspires them to act for and protect the resources of the Rock River Basin. Our work builds upon the cultures around the water that currently exists and helps to extend it so that more people protect the water and see how it is interconnected with everything we do.

We also acknowledge how these waters have been important for millennia to people and traditions before us. The land has a rich history of Indigenous Peoples who have called this land home, just as they do now. And now many other cultures share these same resources. We hope that our work can contribute to the deep history of these waters and protect them for our future generations.

Economic
Investing in water quality is a smart investment that can magnify into other benefits. We aim to show easy economic solutions that can be implemented that save money and provide benefits for our local water sources.

Our Vision

We envision a community that is inspired to take collective action to protect and improve our resources for all, now and in the future in the Rock River Basin. Our vision includes clean waters; plentiful native fish and wildlife; accessible opportunities for recreation; and vibrant sustainable cities, towns, farms, prairies, wetlands, forests and cultural sites.

Rock River Coalition Values

  • Stewardship: We are all connected by the land, water and wildlife. Thus, we have a responsibility to engage and inspire people to take care of them.
  • Diversity: We are driven to develop a community of advocates who advance access, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
  • Collaboration: We are committed to collective efforts and collaborative partnerships focused on short- and long-term actions and aspirations.
  • Science: We are guided by evidence-based research and informed decision-making.
  • Education: We are dedicated to sharing information for people to learn about Rock River Basin’s diverse assets.
  • Exploration: We cultivate experiences and opportunities that tap into a spirit of curiosity and exploration so all can experience nature where we live, learn, work, and play.

Meet Our Team

 

 

Executive Director

Becca Dymzarov (She/her)
Email: Becca@rockrivercoalition.org
About Becca

Staff Member Addie Schlussel

Stream Monitoring Coordinator

Addie Schlussel (She/her)
Email: Addie@rockrivercoalition.org
About Addie

Communications, Events, and Outreach Coordinator

Brooke Alexander (She/her)
Email: Brooke@rockrivercoalition.org
About Brooke

Administrative Assistant

Sue Heffron (She/her)
Email: info@rockrivercoalition.org
About Sue

Communications Specialist

Garrett Hopkins (He/him)
About Garrett

Board of Directors

Director, Pangea (GIS Center)

Department of Geography and Geology
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI 53190

Phone: 262-472-5126

Email: compase@uww.edu

Water Resources Management Specialist

Jefferson Cty Land & Water Conservation Dept
311 S Center Ave, Room 113
Jefferson WI 53549-1701

Phone: 920-674-7121

Email: patricia@rockrivercoalition.org

Member at Large (2020-2022)

Member at Large (2022-2026)

Member at Large (2023-2026)

Member at Large (2023-2026)

Member at Large (2023-2026)

Montgomery Baker (2018-2023)

Advisors to the Board

Water Resources Management Specialist – Senior

Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
3911 Fish Hatchery Road
Fitchburg, WI 53711

Phone: 608-275-3247

Email: Michael.Sorge@wisconsin.gov

TMDL Project Manager – Southern District

3911 Fish Hatchery Road
Fitchburg, WI 53711-5397

Phone: 608-275-3471

Email: MarkS.Riedel@wisconsin.gov