Welcome!

Welcome to the ARCHIVED site for the Testing the Waters project from May 2016. We will maintain this site until the next version of our mapping system is completed. See photos and read our final report here. Please contact Dr. Eric Compas with any questions about the project.

Welcome to the Testing the Waters - A Paddle and Probe Adventure site! Follow our progress on the overview map, our live dashboard, or attend one of our public events. Or, find out more about our team and actions that you can take below.

Upcoming events

All events for the project are now finished. Thanks so much for your participation! ♥

Overview map - Rock River Basin
Current mapping locations
Facebook feed
Our team

Logistics team

Suzanne Wade

Suzanne Wade

TTW Project Coordinator, RRC Board Member, retired Natural Resources Educator with UWEX

During her nineteen years as a natural resources educator with UWEX she worked to bring people and our waters together. "We can't love something that we don't know, and if we don't love our waters, how can we expect to protect them. So I hope people will come out and enjoy this fabulous resource in our own backyard and get to know it a little better, and love it a little more."

Jojo O'Brien

Jojo O'Brien

TTW Logistical Coordinator

My background is in Biological Systems Engineering and Environmental Studies and passionate about the RRC mission and excited about TTW linking communities to their river. I spent two years working as a Health Project Manager on river tributaries in the Colombian jungle and am looking forward to working on the water again!

Caitlin Peterson

Caitlin Peterson

TTW Logistical Coordinator

She grew up spending as much time as possible in and alongside Wisconsin's lakes and rivers, and studied conservation biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is now finishing up her M.S. in Water Resources with the University of Wyoming and is so excited to spend part of the summer back in her home state working with the Rock River Coalition.

Mapping/paddling team

Eric Compas

Eric Compas

Water array hacker; President, Current Data; Director, Pangea Studios/GIS Center; Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Geology, and Environmental Science

Did someone say there'd be bacon on this trip?

Jeff Smyczek

Jeff Smyczek

GIS Analyst/Paddler, UW-Whitewater Geography Najor

I have been primarily working on both the print and interactive maps for the Testing the Waters event and will also be paddling one of the water arrays during the extent of the trip. See you on the Water!

Tyler Tomaszewski

Tyler Tomaszewski

GIS Server Master, UW-Whitewater Environmental Science Major (2015)

I run Control Center Operations from UW-Whitewater, adding media to the dashboard and keeping the data stream flowing strong like the mighty Rock River. Fun Fact: I like to rock the party.

Porter Vande Voort

Porter Vande Voort

GIS Analyst/Social Media, UW-Whitewater Geography Major

The role he will be playing in this project is as the GIS/social media specialist. He has always had an interest in water quality issues, which is why he is excited to be a part of this project.

Bill Frisbee

Bill Frisbee

TTW Team Paddler, Storm Water Engineer for the City of Beloit

I will be collecting additional samples to be tested for nutrients that the probes cannot monitor. Thinking and acting on a basin wide scale will only increase our local/individual efforts to protect and improve the quality of the Rock River and its tributaries.

Sandy Thorpe

Sandy Thorpe

TTW Paddler, retired speech pathologist

Her passions over the years have been road and mountain biking and canoe and kayaking. She is a certified Spin Instructor having some of the 1st spin classes at the Beloit YMCA and North Pointe Wellness Center. She is the founder of the BACK (Beloit Area Canoe and Kayak group) and also provided kayak instruction. You can find her outdoors skiing the Birkebeiner, biking, hiking and paddling. One of her favorite sayings about sea kayaking is that "it irons the wrinkles out of my soul."

Education/outreach team

Anna Courtier

Anna Courtier

TTW Science Outreach, UWW Science Outreach Coordinator

Anna earned her BS in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her PhD in Geophysics from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She worked as a geology professor before moving to UW-Whitewater to lead the science outreach program. In addition to student and community outreach, Anna is interested in science education research, including the development and assessment of curriculum or pedagogy for both K-12 and undergraduate students.

Karl Brandstaetter

Karl Brandstaetter

TTW Science Outreach, UW-Whitewater Integrated Science Business Major

I'm the current president of the UWW Water Council and a passionate about water, gardening, and all things outdoors.

Rachel Terracina

Rachel Terracina

TTW Science Outreach, UW-Whitewater Biology Major

I am one of the Science Outreach Associates working to teach the public about the project and why it is so important to gather the data we are working to collect. Outside of being a Science Outreach Associate, I am also president of my sorority, Alpha Sigma, a passionate knitter, and a proud mom to a beautiful betta fish!

Planning team

Including Suzanne Wade, Eric Compas, and Anna Courtier above

Patricia Cicero

Patricia Cicero

TTW Planning Team; Rock River Coalition Past President and Board Member; Water Resource Specialist for the Jefferson County Land and Water Conservation Department

Please contact me if you'd like to become a citizen scientist in Jefferson County. There are plenty of ways to get involved with lakes or streams including monitoring water quality, and documenting the presence or absence of aquatic invasive species.

Greg Farnham

Greg Farnham

TTW Planning Team

Greg Farnham is coordinator of the Rock River Trail Initiative and author of the comprehensive plan for the Rock River National Water Trail.

Dave Hoffman

Dave Hoffman

TTW Planning Team; Secretary for the Rock River Coalition, Community Coordinator for Rock County Parks

I have a true passion for the outdoors and love every second I get to not have concrete underneath my feet. My favorite quote from my favorite author, preservationist, and environmental steward: "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike." –John Muir

Mark Riedel

Mark Riedel

TTW Planning Team, TMDL Project Manager WI DNR

Mark has been working with local communities and partners on water resources restoration projects for over 20 years. He enjoys paddling, hunting, fishing, and working with his local Lion's Club in Albany, where he is also a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Responder.

Take action
Membership

Become a Rock River Coalition member

Volunteer

Become a citizen stream monitor

Donate

Help the Coalition in its efforts

Learn

More about the Rock River