Koshkonong Creek Collaborative – Â鶹ĘÓƵ Fri, 03 Nov 2023 14:38:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-favicon_logo-32x32.jpg Koshkonong Creek Collaborative – Â鶹ĘÓƵ 32 32 Creating a conservation action plan to improve water quality and ecosystem conditions in the Koshkonong Creek Watershed /projects/creating-a-conservation-action-plan-to-improve-water-quality-and-ecosystem-conditions-in-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:51 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/creating-a-conservation-action-plan-to-improve-water-quality-and-ecosystem-conditions-in-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/ Read More... from Creating a conservation action plan to improve water quality and ecosystem conditions in the Koshkonong Creek Watershed

]]> A group of graduate students from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison worked collaboratively with Friends of Koshkonong Creek to create a conservation action plan to improve water quality and ecosystem conditions in Koshkonong Creek.

Koshkonong Creek consists of lower and upper watersheds. Koshkonong Creek is listed under the Wisconsin DNR’s Impaired Waters list due to high levels of nutrients, mainly phosphorus, which affect its water quality. As a result, this plan focuses on restoring and preserving the ecosystems of the Koshkonong Creek Watershed. Additionally, this plan aims to promote a healthy creek community devoid of pollution and degradation, protect biodiversity and aquatic life, and encourage sustainability and long-term benefits for surrounding populations. Improving farmer welfare, health, recreational capacity, and resource security are vital components incorporated into the project’s long-term values

]]> Establishing a citizen science application for watershed data collection /projects/establishing-a-citizen-science-application-for-watershed-data-collection/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:51 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/establishing-a-citizen-science-application-for-watershed-data-collection/ Read More... from Establishing a citizen science application for watershed data collection

]]> This class took initial steps to create a GIS geodatabase, hub website, and citizen science application for the Friends of Koshkonong Creek and local stakeholders.

UniverCity Year Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu

]]> Mapping amenities in the Koshkonong Creek Watershed through geodesign /projects/mapping-amenities-in-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed-through-geodesign/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:51 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/mapping-amenities-in-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed-through-geodesign/ Read More... from Mapping amenities in the Koshkonong Creek Watershed through geodesign

]]> This project team will propose an extension of the Glacial Drumlin State Trail along Koshkonong Creek. The trail currently runs through the counties of Dane, Jefferson, and Waukesha from Cottage Grove to the city of Waukesha. The proposed trail extension would run from Sun Prairie to Cottage Grove where it would connect to the existing Glacial Drumlin State Trail. The new trail would incorporate green infrastructure through the use of permeable pavement, restoration of abutting wetlands, planting of trees and placement of stormwater planters. The extension will also increase active transportation infrastructure, link under-resourced areas to work/play, and connect existing and new recreational spaces.

UniverCity Year Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu

]]> Documenting land use and environmental change in a Wisconsin watershed: Addressing local needs for adaptive management /projects/documenting-land-use-and-environmental-change-in-a-wisconsin-watershed-addressing-local-needs-for-adaptive-management/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:51 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/documenting-land-use-and-environmental-change-in-a-wisconsin-watershed-addressing-local-needs-for-adaptive-management/ Read More... from Documenting land use and environmental change in a Wisconsin watershed: Addressing local needs for adaptive management

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We are a group of six master’s students in the Environmental Observation and Informatics program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In this project, we provide an overview of the expansion of the City of Sun Prairie, background on how climate change is projected to affect this area of Wisconsin, and an analysis of how land cover types have changed in the area bordering Koshkonong Creek.

We hope this project will provide a better understanding of the effect that Koshkonong Creek has on the neighboring land and help advocate for increased management of the creek to reduce flooding in this area.

UniverCity Year Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu

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]]> Expanding the website for the Friends of Koshkonong Creek /projects/expanding-the-website-for-the-friends-of-koshkonong-creek/ /projects/expanding-the-website-for-the-friends-of-koshkonong-creek/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:48 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/expanding-the-website-for-the-friends-of-koshkonong-creek/ Read More... from Expanding the website for the Friends of Koshkonong Creek

]]> A digital studies student continued the website improvement project for Friends of Koshkonong Creek, enhancing the design, adding photos, and refining the information presented to best communicate with site users.

UniverCity Year Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu

]]> /projects/expanding-the-website-for-the-friends-of-koshkonong-creek/feed/ 0 Exploring green infrastructure ideas for the Koshkonong Creek Watershed /projects/exploring-green-infrastructure-ideas-for-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/ /projects/exploring-green-infrastructure-ideas-for-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:48 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/exploring-green-infrastructure-ideas-for-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/ Read More... from Exploring green infrastructure ideas for the Koshkonong Creek Watershed

]]> This report is a compilation of seven unique strategies that address Koshkonong Creek flooding through environmental sustainability engineering solutions. The strategies include:
Implementing floating solar panels and a riparian buffer as a solution to farm field flooding and excess phosphorus in the Koshkonong Creek
Koshkonong Creek Park for flooding and phosphorus mitigation
Dairy farms to almonds: How selling water from the Koshkonong Creek may solve Sun Prairie’s flooding problem
A blue-green approach to the Koshkonong Creek: Retention ponds and blue spirulina
Koshkonong Creek: Growing Hydrocotyle vulgaris for a well-functioning ecosystem
Saving the Koshkonong Creek Watershed with riparian buffers and utility-scalesolar farms
A passive water collection and reuse system for Koshkonong Creek

UniverCity Year Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu

]]> /projects/exploring-green-infrastructure-ideas-for-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/feed/ 0 Growing a stakeholder network for Koshkonong Creek clean-up and maintenance /projects/growing-a-stakeholder-network-for-koshkonong-creek-clean-up-and-maintenance/ /projects/growing-a-stakeholder-network-for-koshkonong-creek-clean-up-and-maintenance/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:48 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/growing-a-stakeholder-network-for-koshkonong-creek-clean-up-and-maintenance/ Read More... from Growing a stakeholder network for Koshkonong Creek clean-up and maintenance

]]> Due to increased development within the Koshkonong Creek watershed and achanging climate, overall health of the watershed has worsened. Our team’s project goal isto identify how to improve the overall health of the watershed as well as the best outreachstrategies to inspire community stakeholders related to the future sustainability of theKoshkonong Creek watershed.

UniverCity Year Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu

]]> /projects/growing-a-stakeholder-network-for-koshkonong-creek-clean-up-and-maintenance/feed/ 0 Exploring governance options for the Koshkonong Creek Watershed /projects/exploring-governance-options-for-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/ /projects/exploring-governance-options-for-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:48 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/exploring-governance-options-for-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/ Read More... from Exploring governance options for the Koshkonong Creek Watershed

]]> The health of a water body is intrinsically linked to the use of the surrounding land. This inescapable truth poses a significant challenge to those who seek to manage watersheds of all sizes, as the land that these watersheds encompass is utilized by a diverse group of stakeholders. Their diverse range of interests inherently results in an equally diverse set of opinions that stakeholders bring to the table regarding management within their watershed. Such circumstances highlight the potential value a cohesive form of governance can contribute to effective watershed management. In the absence of such
guidance, it is often difficult for stakeholders to reach agreement around (or even discuss) the “right” decisions that should be made regarding their watershed. Absent a forum of these discussions, decisions are made on an individual basis, resulting in a patchwork of approaches to watershed management.

This report focuses on the Koshkonong Creek watershed in Dane and Jefferson Counties in Wisconsin. This watershed includes a wide variety of farmers, landowners, governing agencies of different levels, and non-profit groups. There has been limited watershed-scale management in this watershed, which has contributed to communication challenges, and misaligned objectives among various. This report gives context to the issue, analyzes the problems and potential solutions, and provides recommendations.

UniverCity Year Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu

]]> /projects/exploring-governance-options-for-the-koshkonong-creek-watershed/feed/ 0 Exploring engineering options for flood control, sediment, and nutrient reduction for Koshkonong Creek /projects/exploring-engineering-options-for-flood-control-sediment-and-nutrient-reduction-for-koshkonong-creek/ /projects/exploring-engineering-options-for-flood-control-sediment-and-nutrient-reduction-for-koshkonong-creek/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:48 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/exploring-engineering-options-for-flood-control-sediment-and-nutrient-reduction-for-koshkonong-creek/ Read More... from Exploring engineering options for flood control, sediment, and nutrient reduction for Koshkonong Creek

]]> The Koshkonong Creek watershed located in Sun Prairie Wisconsin is experiencing an increasein both the severity and duration of flood events. The goal of this project is to reduce the durationof flood events in the watershed through the implementation of side-channel storage that worksto retain flood waters for a controlled, slow-release after a peak flooding event. Other considerations and efforts of this project include a reduction in sediment and phosphorous loads, reduction in water temperature, increasing fish populations, and control of streambank erosion.

UniverCity Year Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu

]]> /projects/exploring-engineering-options-for-flood-control-sediment-and-nutrient-reduction-for-koshkonong-creek/feed/ 0 Investigating flood control alternatives for Koshkonong Creek Watershed /projects/investigating-flood-control-alternatives-for-koshkonong-creek-watershed/ /projects/investigating-flood-control-alternatives-for-koshkonong-creek-watershed/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:40:48 +0000 https://commons.epicn.org/projects/investigating-flood-control-alternatives-for-koshkonong-creek-watershed/ Read More... from Investigating flood control alternatives for Koshkonong Creek Watershed

]]> To address annual flooding in the Koshkonong Creek Watershed located near the Badger Farms property, students designed an alternative that recommends creating a community recreational area with the goal of reducing the severity and duration of these events.

UniverCity Year Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu

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