Lake Education Ecology Program (LEEP) Volunteers
Since 2009, we have been partnering with the Drummond Area School District to help seventh grade students become life-long lake stewards. Our award-winning program delivers classroom lessons and one field trip each spring and fall. The curriculum meets Wisconsin educational standards. Volunteers choose their levels of commitment: volunteers may choose to spend a day outside in the spring or fall helping with a variety of field labs, or they may assist with classrooom lessons to help students better understand the outdoor labs.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Cris Neff at 715-795-3227 or use our contact form.
Boat Landing Monitors
You may have noticed Clean Boats Clean Waters volunteers checking boats at area boat landings. These individuals help perform boat and trailer checks, disseminate informational brochures and educate boaters on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
If you would like to volunteer (students can volunteer if accompanied by a parent or grandparent), or volunteer in order to fulfill a portion of your Community Service Hours, please contact Barb Clements at barbc.ais@gmail.com.
Water Quality Monitoring and Shoreline Monitoring
We in the Eau Claire Lakes area rely on volunteers to be the eyes and ears in the lake world. Volunteers play an important role in assessing lake water quality and the watershed health by monitoring water clarity, water chemistry (such as dissolved oxygen or phosphorus), aquatic invasive species, aquatic plant communities, and many kinds of wildlife— from aquatic insects to birds.
Volunteer lake monitoring is a great way to learn more about your lake, observe and document long-term changes in lake health, and collect valuable data. This data is used to report on lake conditions and water quality trends, to prepare lake and watershed management plans, and to teach others about our lakes’ health and what we can do to take better care of them. Wisconsin has several monitoring programs that depend on citizen involvement.
For opportunities to volunteer with the WDNR’s Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, please contact Kris Larsen at 715-635-4072 or kris.larsen@wisconsin.gov. For Shoreline Monitoring volunteer opportunities, AIS identification and removal of invasive lake vegetation, please contact Ingemar Ekstrom at 715-795-2183 or ije@cheqnet.net.
St. Croix Headwaters Watershed Project
This project is a result of citizen and government feedback on implementation priorities from a comprehensive watershed study completed in 2009. The project goals and objectives focus on preserving and improving the wetlands and water quality of the Headwaters, protecting and restoring critical aquatic and riparian habitat and preventing aquatic invasive species from spreading into and within the Headwaters.
The area consists of portions of Bayfield and Douglas Counties and many lakes that are relevant to the efforts of The Friends of the Eau Claire Lakes Area, as lake visitors often divide their time between the Eau Claire Lakes and the Headwaters.
If you wish to volunteer to assist in efforts to preserve and improve these headwaters or to serve on the various committees of this project, please contact Scott Peterson at 715-520-7732 or scott@fotsch.org.
Loon Watch – Become a Loon Ranger!
Since 1978, hundreds of volunteers (affectionately known as Loon Rangers) across northern Wisconsin have helped us keep an eye on nesting loons. Volunteers attend a Loon Ranger Workshop in the spring to learn how to monitor loons, to hear what’s new in the world of loon research, and to meet other loon enthusiasts. Throughout the summer months, Loon Rangers watch loons on a lake where they live, vacation, or visit often. They record when loons arrive, if they nested, how many chicks were produced, and any potential threats to the nest site. In fall, data is sent to LoonWatch where it is entered into the DNR’s SWIMS database and made available for management decision-making. Loon Rangers also help protect loons by spreading the word to their neighbors and other lake users to steer clear of loons on nests and on the water. For more information, please email loonwatch@northland.edu or call 715-682-1220.