Volunteering

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Volunteering with Superior Rivers

Water Quality Monitoring

Our goal is to collect four years of data at monitoring sites. This long-term “baseline” data helps us identify waterways which may need protection or restoration measures and provides information to decision makers, partners, and interested or concerned community members.

• Water Chemistry. Field work. Long-term commitment. 1-2 hours per month. Visit a stream site once per month to collect a water sample and perform analyses using LaMotte Surface Water Testing Kits. All training and equipment provided. Additionally, chemistry volunteers must attend a yearly quality control session.
• Macroinvertebrate Collection. Field Work. Once or twice per year. 6 hour commitment. Visit a stream site once in the spring and once in the fall to collect aquatic macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs like dragonfly and mayfly larvae). All training and equipment provided. Volunteers are expected to refresh training once every two years.
• Macroinvertebrate Identification. Lab work. 2 hour commitment. Drop-in group sessions. Attend group ID sessions to sort and identify macroinvertebrates collected in the field. All instruction and equipment provided. Identification involves sorting through specimen that have been preserved in ethyl-alcohol, use of microscopes, and use of taxonomic keys to identify species traits.

Education and Outreach

We provide engaging and educational opportunities and materials for the public. One way we do this is through producing quarterly newsletters, website content, and social media posts.

• Write Newsletter Articles. We produce the quarterly Watershed Waves Newsletter. Watershed Waves provides program updates and regional water related data, images, and stories for our community. Provide an article as a guest writer. Newsletter articles should be 800 words or less.
• Develop Watershed Profiles for Our Website. Each watershed within our service area has its own profile on our website. We’re always developing and expanding these profiles. Research and write profiles on our local watersheds for us to include in these profiles.

Deeper Involvement

Help shape where SRWA is going by offering support to staff and volunteers.

• Join a Committee. Committee members work in a group to brainstorm, create, and implement ways to support SRWA. Each committee is different, but generally requires 2-4 hours per month.
  • Program Committee – Guides our major programs and offers technical support to ensure SRWA’s mission is supported and sustained. Great for those with Natural Resource or non-profit backgrounds.
  • Fundraising Committee – Plans and implements fundraising opportunities to ensure SRWA can achieve its mission. Great for outgoing, communication- or planning-oriented folks.
  • Finance Committee – Supports and enhances the mission of the organization by overseeing the provision and distribution of resources to carry out SRWA’s work.
• Join our Board of Directors. SRWA consists of a board of 7 to 15 Board of Directors. These board members serve as volunteers who support our mission, vision, and values. They are residents from throughout the service area with a broad representation of the watershed and communities within. Board members serve three year terms, where they oversee and guide the organization, its mission, and its fiscal operations. Board members often commit 2-10 hours per month.

Do you have skills that could assist SRWA in a meaningful way? We would love to find a way for you to be involved! Send us an email or call (715) 682-2003.

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Resources for Current Volunteers

Thank you to our current volunteers and all you do! Here is a compilation of the handbooks, data sheets, and instructions you need in case you misplaced yours or need new copies.

Volunteer Recognition

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