Every Day is Earth Day Festival
2022-04-22 - 2022-04-24
This event celebrates the people, organizations, and businesses that uphold our sustainable culture in Door County and beyond. Every Day is Earth Day comprises an environmentally focused weekend of resource exchange, an open house, guest speakers, demonstrations, films, and activities for people of all ages.
Info here.

Water@UW-Madison Symposium
2022-04-22 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
With a theme of “Reconnecting Around Water”, the 2022 Spring Symposium will bring together a range of thinkers from the natural and social sciences, humanities, arts, public policy, and Wisconsin state agencies to share their experiences with water research and the many ways water connects us all. Live CART captioning will be provided for the virtual event.
Info here.

You Can Make a Difference for Bumble Bees: Programs to Document Bumble Bees in Yards, Parks, Gardens, and Natural Areas AND What Plants They Use - Bumble Bee Short Course for Community Scientists
2022-04-22 12:00 - 13:30
Free, weekly webinars to build skills of community scientists interested in bumble bee biodiversity, ecology and conservation.
Info here.

Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop
2022-04-23 09:30 - 11:30
Join us to Build Your Own Rain Barrel on Saturday, April 23rd to promote the use of green infrastructure and to improve the health of the Rock River watershed.
The average American family directly consumes nearly 110,000 gallons of water each year, and if you include water used for producing food, energy, and consumer goods, that total jumps to 1.9 million gallons annually! However, a single 55-gallon rain barrel can save up to 1,300 gallons of water every year.
Rain barrels collect free rainwater to water gardens, trees, and lawns. This saves you money on water bills AND helps reduce demand for energy-intensive treated tap water, limits stormwater runoff and erosion, and saves water for use during droughts. Installing a rain barrel is one of the easiest ways to reduce your water footprint and help recharge our rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
Info here.

Forage Harvest Management
2022-04-25 13:00 - 14:00
Tech Talks is an online training series organized by the Technical Training and Certification Program.
Info here.

North Central Spring Conservation Gathering - Climate Smart Soil Solutions
2022-04-26 09:00 - 12:00
Building healthy soil amidst an increasingly challenging environment remains a high priority for women landowners in Wisconsin. Join fellow women landowners, farmers and conservationists along with local experts, to delve into climate-smart practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigate the impacts of climate change, while building resilience to strengthen your operation.
Info here.

Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom (HCB-1) Training
2022-04-26 12:00 - 14:30
The Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms (HCBs) training reviews key information found in the two ITRC HCB Guidance Documents, the 2021 Strategies for Preventing and Managing Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCB-1) and the 2022 companion document focused on benthic HCBs (HCB-2). ITRC’s HCB-2 focuses on the ecology, toxin production, management, and mitigation of benthic HCBs and is a companion document to the HCB-1 document released by ITRC in March 2021.
The Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom (HCB-1) training provides an overview of cyanobacteria (particularly planktonic blooms) and their management, covering five sections from the ITRC HCB-1 guidance document:
Introduction to the Cyanobacteria (Section 3)
Monitoring (Section 4)
Communication and Response Planning (Section 5)
Management and Control (Section 6)
Nutrient Management (Section 7)
Info here.

New Technology for Weed Identification and Control
2022-04-26 13:00 - 14:00
Steven Mirsky, Research Ecologist at the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, MD
USDA – ARS and the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) are co-hosting 10 webinars on weed science and research.
Info here.

A Field Study of Maximum Wave Height, Total Wave Energy, and Maximum Wave Power Produced by Four Recreational Boats on a Freshwater Lake
2022-04-26 13:00 - 14:00
In recent years, with the growth of recreational boating activities, there has been growing concern over boat-generated waves and propeller wash and their environmental impacts to lakes and rivers. The research reported here was motivated by a need to better understand the characteristics (i.e., height ,energy, and power) of wakes and waves produced by common recreational boats. Four boats were evaluated. Two of the boats were typical recreational boats (i.e., non-wakesurf) that are commonly used for tow sports like tubing, waterskiing, and wakeboarding, and the other two boats were wakesurf boats designed specifically for the sport of wakesurfing. Testing involved operating each boat at four distances from the shoreline (225 ft., 325 ft., 425 ft., and 625 ft.) under various conditions (e.g., speed, ballast weight, trim setting, etc.). The data show clear differences in wake wave characteristics between the non-wakesurf and wakesurf boats and can be used to inform boat operational distances necessary to attenuate wave heights, energies, and powers to levels deemed acceptable.
Info here.

Lake Superior Collaborative Spring Symposium
2022-04-27 - 2022-04-29
The purpose of the Lake Superior Collaborative Symposium is to share and discuss information on projects and data, provide networking opportunities among professionals working on conservation, restoration, and climate-adaptive projects in the Lake Superior Basin of Wisconsin, and to provide space for group input and action planning for the future.
The 2022 Symposium will include a combination of virtual presentations, in-person field trips, and networking opportunities that center the Lake Superior basin of Wisconsin. Attendees will also have the opportunity to join break-out discussion groups focusing on future planning for specific project areas.
Info here.

2022 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference
2022-04-27 - 2022-04-28
The conference will feature traditional presentations and a poster session on the latest in emerging contaminant research, policies, and outreach in the soil, water, and air. In addition, there will be plenty of opportunities for discussion and networking with those interested in all aspects of emerging contaminants in the environment.
Researchers, educators, businesses, government officials, regulatory agencies, policy makers, outreach and extension professionals, environmental groups, members of the general public, and medical, veterinary, and public health professionals are encouraged to submit abstracts and attend the conference.
Info here.

Predicting restoration outcomes: from concept to practice
2022-04-27 09:00 - 10:00
Restoration outcomes are notorious for being unpredictable. Similar restoration actions, carried out on seemingly similar sites, can result in variable outcomes and this unpredictability challenges our capacity to meet specific goals. In turn, this points to the need to develop predictive capacities in restoration. But what will this look like and what challenges must be overcome to develop restoration into a predictive science? We outline an approach for predicting restoration outcomes and describe key challenges that must be overcome, to put this vision into practice. We then describe a research project, where we are putting these ideas into practice, to predict the outcomes of longleaf pine woodlands restoration.
Info here.

Managing your Community’s Floodplains Webinar: Substantial Damage Assessments and the SDE Tool
2022-04-27 09:00 - 10:00
Assessing building damages post-disaster is the preferred method for making substantial damage determinations and offers a number of benefits that should make it easier to administer the Substantial Improvement/Damage (SI/SD) requirements. One benefit is to provide property owners with information about the requirement to bring buildings into compliance before they get very far along with their plans to repair. Another benefit is that owners that have Federal flood insurance policies will more quickly receive the community’s substantial damage determination that they need in order to submit a claim for ICC coverage to their adjuster. Waiting for repair permits to come in poses a challenge to the community because many people begin repairs without getting permits. In addition, by the time owners apply for permits, they may have hired design professionals to develop plans for repairs and improvements that do not take into consideration the requirement to bring SI/SD buildings into compliance.
Info here.

North East Spring Conservation Gathering - Climate Smart Soil Solutions
2022-04-27 09:00 - 12:00

Non-metallic Mining Reclamation Jurisdictions
2022-04-27 10:00 - 11:30
This is the second in a four-part webinar series – Nonmetallic Mining Reclamation Jurisdictions: What you need to know! This training will focus on what you need to know between local, county, and state regulations pertaining to reclamation permit requirements and jurisdictions for nonmetallic mining.
If you do not receive a confirmation email after registering, please contact Penny at Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org
Info here.

Farmer Perspectives on Rotational No-Till Agriculture
2022-04-27 13:00 - 14:00
Rodale Institute is pleased to host farmers across the United States that are making organic rotational no-till agriculture work on their farms. Join us as we explore the successes (and the challenges) associated with this production system – one that we believe to be highest standard for organic agriculture.
Info here.

Rodent-Eating Birds Supported by Nest Boxes, Platforms and Perches
2022-04-27 13:00 - 14:00
The Role of Birds on the Farm Course: Lesson 4 – Rodent-Eating Birds Supported by Nest Boxes, Platforms and Perches
Upon successfully completing this lesson, participants will be able to:
• Understand that raptors can meaningfully reduce rodent pests
• Know a few raptor species that provide natural pest control
• Recommend the best features for a Barn Owl box
• Impress farmers or neighbors with numbers of rodent pests Barn Owls eat
• Recommend the best features for a raptor perch
• Caution about use of rodenticides related to rodent-eating bird health
Info here.

Benefits of Perennial Forage, Shrubs, and Trees for Livestock, Part 2
2022-04-27 14:00 - 15:00
In Part 2 of this virtual workshop, NCAT Grazing Specialist Justin Morris and NCAT Livestock Specialist Felicia Bell will explore this topic in greater depth.
They will explore the benefits of different perennial species they discussed in Part 1 of this workshop. (Did you miss Part 1? Get caught up HERE!). Justin will also go into how to get the right perennials established – whether in the garden or on the farm – where undesirable perennials already exist. He will describe the “repeated close mowing” technique. And Justin will talk about using cover crops strategically when establishing perennials, by planting full season cover crop mixtures for two years between the undesirable perennial and the desirable perennial plants.
Info here.

Environmental Policy and the Fight to the Table
2022-04-27 16:00 - 17:00
This event speaker Mąąšusga (Jon Greendeer) will present about community health and wellness in the Ho-Chunk Nation.
In this 8th Annual CNR Spring Seminar Series, we are featuring seven speakers, each representing a different level of policy-setting in Wisconsin. This seminar series highlights the roles of the legislature, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, the Tribal Government, Non-Governmental organizations, and citizens in making decisions affecting our natural resources in Wisconsin. We invite you to join us for these fascinating seminars detailing the challenges and successes of setting natural resources policy.
Info here.

Caring for Your Drinking Water Well and Quality
2022-04-27 16:30 - 17:30
You are what you drink, so knowing about your drinking water is important for your health. This webinar will help get you familiar with your drinking well, how to protect it and also what to look for in water quality. Included will be the common contaminants to test for, how to test, what the results mean and whether treatment in recommended. Treatment systems will also be discussed.
Info here.

Organic Pest Management for Vegetable and Flower Gardens
2022-04-27 18:30 - 19:30
Grow beautiful and productive gardens with your health, pollinators, wildlife and the environment in mind. Melinda will cover strategies for helping you reduce the risk of insect and disease problems by working with nature, selecting the right plants for your garden and providing proper care. Then she’ll cover organic strategies to help you manage problems when they arise.
Info here.

Conservation and Economic Benefits of Alley Cropping
2022-04-28 10:00 - 11:00
Alley cropping combines rows of trees with agronomic or horticultural crops between the rows. This system can generate a range of farm products in tree rows including biomass, timber, fruit, or nuts while at the same time improving environmental outcomes. This webinar will go over planning for alley cropping, including new NRCS guidance documents and resources available. 1 Society of American Foresters (SAF) CEU will be offered.
You will receive a confirmation email upon successfully registering. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact Penny at Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org for registration assistance.
Info here.

Benthic Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom (HCB-2) Training
2022-04-28 12:00 - 13:00
The Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms (HCBs) training reviews key information found in the two ITRC HCB Guidance Documents, the 2021 Strategies for Preventing and Managing Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCB-1) and the 2022 companion document focused on benthic HCBs (HCB-2). ITRC’s HCB-2 focuses on the ecology, toxin production, management, and mitigation of benthic HCBs and is a companion document to the HCB-1 document released by ITRC in March 2021.
HCB-2 Training
The Benthic Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom (HCB-2) training provides an overview of benthic cyanobacteria and their management, covering five sections from the ITRC HCB-2 guidance document:
Introduction to the Benthic Cyanobacteria (Section 1)
Cyanotoxins (Section 2)
Monitoring for Benthic Cyanobacteria (Section 3)
Introduction to Treatment Strategies (Section 4)
Communication and Response Planning for Benthic Cyanobacteria (Section 5)
Info here.

WDNR Jurisdictional Determination Training - Navigability and Ordinary High Water Mark Determinations
2022-04-28 13:00 - 15:00
The Department of Natural Resources Waterway Program is offering a remote technical training opportunity for our local regulatory and land conservation partners to aide in making navigability and ordinary high water mark determinations for local ordinance administration. It has been a few years since the Department has been able to offer such an opportunity, so we are anticipating many staff in newer roles may find value in this opportunity. The training will be focused on how to conduct navigability determinations, ordinary high water mark determinations, and will also provide an overview of the Department’s third-party jurisdictional determination data collection and review/concurrence process.
Info here.

So you want to manage your wetland. Where to start?
2022-04-29 10:30 - 11:30
The Wetland Coffee Break series helps keep our community of wetland lovers connected and learning about wetlands throughout the year, from anywhere! Bring your coffee and learn about wetlands, the plants and animals that call them home, and the many natural benefits they provide to our communities. Sessions are held on Zoom and feature time for audience Q&A.
Info here.

Volunteer Stream Monitoring Workshop
2022-04-30 09:00 - 14:30
Do you live by a stream or river? Looking for a way to protect streams near you? Become a volunteer stream monitor with the Rock River Coalition! From May to October, our 180+ stream monitors collect data vital to understanding the health of our streams across the Rock River Basin. By the end of this workshop, you’ll know how to measure water quality and be ready to adopt your own stream monitoring site. No experience is needed!
Info here.

Wetland Construction: Principles, Planning, and Design
2022-05-09 09:00 - 2022-05-10 15:00
May 9, 11, 13, and 16
As state and federal wetland mitigation standards evolve away from an acre-for-acre approach to a focus on replacing wetland functions, your understanding of the wetland’s “wet part” has never been more critical.
This online class serves as an introduction to the fundamentals of functional design and provides the means to rapidly assess the distribution of hydrology on your site and create useable hydrographs for presentation of your wetland design.
Building on the student’s understanding of wetland functions, this course will also guide you through the many factors required to plan and design a functional wetland. Through online lessons, you will learn “real world” applications with an emphasis on two key components that drive success: DDT (depth, duration & timing) of site hydrology and the landscape position.
Info here.

Sharptail Grouse and Early Successional Habitat
2022-05-09 13:00 - 14:00
Join Jacob Granfors, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist, and Garett Christiansen, NRCS Forester, for this session on open landscapes, early successional habitat, and young forest/brushland wildlife habitat. During this session Jake and Garett will cover the range, population status, habitat needs, and ongoing management for Sharptail Grouse. This session also includes a discussion of other early successional wildlife species that utilize similar habitats and/or adjacent forests, such as Woodcock, Ruffed Grouse, and Golden Winged Warblers.
Info here.

Managing Pest Birds
2022-05-09 13:00 - 14:00
The Role of Birds on the Farm Course: Lesson 5 – Managing Pest Birds
Upon successfully completing this lesson, participants will be able to:

Explain the crop feeding/damage risk of birds that move in large flocks and the management techniques used for them as opposed to those that don’t.
Recommend several types of visual, audio and other bird deterrents and how to use them
Describe the reduction of pest birds by attracting American Kestrels with boxes and by supporting raptors with perches
Recommend the best features for an American Kestrel box

Info here.

National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP) Training Conference
2022-05-10 - 2022-05-12
The goal is to provide resources for state conservation partnership leaders and attending field staff conservation planners to strengthen conservation planning in every state and territory.
Info here.
