Their collective reports alert scientists to potential problems and provide a general picture of the lake s overall health. Volunteers also note the presence or location of exotic animals and plants by watching for Eurasian water milfoil and zebra mussels. The DNR also works with institutional partners such as Native American tribes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, universities and the State Lab of Hygiene to sample waters and interpret readings. Environmental Remote Sensing Center attempted to measure lake water clarity using satellite images. We believe and the public expects that Wisconsin s aquatic resources will be managed with the best scientific information available to ensure that we can enjoy and sustain these resources into the future.
Monitoring is a key tool to make that happen.
Clean water in not enough to ensure that lakes and streams are fit for aquatic organisms. Pollution from rural and urban land uses add sediment, nutrients, toxics and pathogens to the water. Sediment, by volume, is the greatest pollutant in Wisconsin s surface waters. Sediment that runs off the land and into the water blankets stream and lake bottom habitat with excess nutrients, making water cloudy reducing the productivity of aquatic ecosystems and blocking sunlight. Water quantity also changes a lake or stream s health.