Watershed Moments: Terrible Well Water
2024-09-10
Jude Holland, local resident, volunteers for Fox-Wolf and other area groups.
Jude Holland doesn’t drink from the well in her backyard – there’s way too much arsenic in the water. But she figured she could still use the water to irrigate her flower beds.
“When I bought my home, I figured out where I could build a garden,” she said. “I put in a raised bed because I wanted fresh, non-contaminated dirt. But I couldn’t use my terrible well water,” she realized. That’s when she decided to put up two rain barrels.
The first year, there wasn’t quite enough water in her barrels for the whole garden, so she added a third.
“I added a new garden later,” Jude said, “and then it was the same year we had a drought.” Which may explain why Jude is now up to five rain barrels.
Trying to grow a safe, healthy garden has certainly taught Jude the importance of knowing your water quality. She is also now a volunteer with Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. She and a friend both heard about the opportunity to sample water and decided to join together.
“Steph puts on waders and gets in the water,” Jude explained. “I label the bottles and write things down.”
When they started doing their water samples years ago, they stood on the dock of a nearby restaurant. The bartender came out to shoo them away, saying, “Are you the DNR? This is a private dock.”
Once Jude and Steph explained who they were, the man was intrigued by their work. Not only are they now welcome on the property, the owner jokes with them that if they fall in, “I’ll pull you out and give you a drink!”
Building relationships like these is one of the things that sets Fox-Wolf apart in the community. When working at the level of an entire watershed, it’s important to have partnerships that include residents, businesses, organizations, and government agencies. Volunteers like Jude are making a big difference for water quality, both at home with her rain barrels and in the field with her water sampling.
Rain Barrels: benefiting you and our waters
Rain runs off your rooftop, onto your driveway, down the street and into the storm drain collecting dirt, debris, fertilizer and other harmful substances along the way. All of the polluted water ends up in our local waters unless we stop the water where it falls!
A rain barrel is a system that collects rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff. Rain barrels come in a wide variety of materials, designs and colors.
Rain water is best for plants. Catching rain water in a rain barrel allows you to water your garden and plants indoors and out during dry periods. Instead of paying for water from the tap, you can use the water you collect to keep your landscape healthy – saving you money!
Using a rain barrel benefits you and our local waters. Water stored in a rain barrel won’t rush off your property and carry pollutants to our streams and rivers. Not only that, water that is used for watering filters into the ground and replenishes the ground water supply. Two great benefits from one barrel!
Watershed Moments is a publication of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, sharing the stories of how your donations have impacted lives in our community. Read our latest project updates, make a secure online donation, or become a member at www.fwwa.org
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annual Landing Blitz campaign runs June 26th – July 6th, 2024. Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) boat inspectors and educators will meet boaters at lake and river launches to remind them that by taking simple prevention steps, we all play a vital role stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) like zebra mussels.
unable to care for their pet may think that releasing the animal is the right thing to do, however, releasing a pet is harmful for the animal and the environment.
strategy. Simply put, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But if only it were just that simple. The variables and situations that can impact a waterbody may seem so limitless that it can be daunting to know where to start. As a lake resident, you might consider questions such as:
transporting and spreading AIS without proper decontamination. While everyone is required to “inspect, remove, and drain” per Wisconsin State Statutes NR40, these steps might not always be 100% effective especially for high-risk users such as service providers who are often working on multiple lakes in a single day and interacting with lake water and sediment in ways that recreational users are not. These kinds of service providers need to follow the same prevention steps that we all do, but they are not required to take the extended steps, such as spraying equipment with a bleach solution, making it all the more important for consumers to advocate for their lake.
been laid in the sediment of the lake. Following analysis of the samples collected, we are please to report that no evidence of spiny waterflea were found which includes not finding any eggs!
boat launches! Get involved today!
which topics they are interested in monitoring. The information gathered by volunteers is even used by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and university biologists and researchers, UW-Extension, and other interested individuals in projects that work to improve your lake! Help keep track of changes in your lake while being near your favorite Winnebago lake! This opportunity is easy to do from both the shoreline as well as your boat!
provide responsible alternatives and a judgement-free environment for pet owners who can no longer care for their exotic animals.
collaborative effort ensures that these animals are given proper care and attention.
With 29 events planned for the year there are ample opportunities for pet owners to seek assistance in rehoming their animals.
Attention Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Garden Club Members and others advising home gardeners; this webinar is for you! Representatives from UWEX and DNR will join Melinda Myers to talk about current threats, available resources and ways we can all work together to manage invasive plants. To register for the free webinar, click the button below!
Goldfish were first spotted in Hamilton Harbour in the 1960s, but largely died off in the 1970s because of industrial contamination. In the early 2000s, their population appeared to recover. Goldfish can tolerate a wide range of water temperatures, reach sexual maturation quickly, and can eat nearly anything, including algae, aquatic plants, eggs and invertebrates, Ms. Boston said.
the Fox is a family-friendly event that celebrates World Rivers Day and the Fox River. Activities offered during the event include guided crayfish and critter hunting, guided nature hikes along the Fox River, fishing instructions for children with the KHS Fishing Team, Fox Lock demonstrations – Lock #3 with shuttle available, paper making, photo scavenger hunt, viewing of “The Power of the River” documentary, and river cleanup with Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
to see that registration filled during the week prior to the event. Amcor employees made up a majority of the group, along with a Boy Scout troup and other conservation-minded volunteers.
cigarette butts, 130 plastic bags, and 53 straws. After weighing up all of the trash, the total was 134 pounds of trash and debris! Other interesting finds include: a tire with rim, orange cone, metal trash can lid, fireworks, baseball, tarp, and a container with two hard-boiled eggs from Costco. Check out the infographic!
kelly@fwwa.org
920-915-1502
Extension Lakes. Volunteers met at different local rendezvous sites across the state to learn how to identify AIS such as Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife, and New Zealand mudsnails, and then searched for them in the field at pre-
selected locations. Initially focused on rivers and streams, Snapshot Day has expanded to include lakes and wetlands. Findings from Snapshot Day are uploaded to the statewide water quality database, SWIMS, where they can be used to track the spread of invasive species and develop management plans.
Snapshot Day’s community-based science approach maximizes the number of sites being checked across the state, and the free event allows volunteers to learn about their local waters and how to keep them healthy. As one volunteer stated, “I enjoyed the hands on learning approach. It was helpful to have well informed guides and samples of the invasive species to get a close look at. Once we had a good understanding of what to look for, it was fun to go out and collect samples of what we were finding.”
invasive species in the Bay of Green Bay. 
risks to Wisconsin waterways and wildlife. Volunteers have a choice to register at one of over twenty event locations hosted by local conservation groups.
