The Community Water Monitoring Network is run by the Wilkinson Lab at the Center for Limnology, UW-Madison. Research from our lab focuses on carbon and nutrient processes in highly nutrient-enriched lakes and small waterbodies. These hypereutrophic systems are heavily impacted by human actions and might react differently in their capacity to release and store carbon. Our project on Stricker's and Tiedeman's ponds in Middleton aims to study these questions directly. Data collected under the CWMN will augment these focal research questions and add to our knowledge of limnology, as well as eventually be available for public access.
Community water monitors help us gain further useful data on various ponds of differing nutrient levels around the area. We are excited to learn even more about pond functioning in the ecosystem and how we can be good stewards of these important systems!
As of summer 2024, CWMN volunteers are regularly monitoring 10 ponds in Madison, Middleton, and Fitchburg. Monitors test a suite of limnological parameters including temperature, clarity, conductivity, pH, and chlorophyll. They record observations and collect water samples for lab analysis of nutrients, carbon, and anions. Temperature and dissolved oxygen is measured during ice free seasons.
Community water monitors help us gain further useful data on various ponds of differing nutrient levels around the area. We are excited to learn even more about pond functioning in the ecosystem and how we can be good stewards of these important systems!
As of summer 2024, CWMN volunteers are regularly monitoring 10 ponds in Madison, Middleton, and Fitchburg. Monitors test a suite of limnological parameters including temperature, clarity, conductivity, pH, and chlorophyll. They record observations and collect water samples for lab analysis of nutrients, carbon, and anions. Temperature and dissolved oxygen is measured during ice free seasons.
Map of CWMN pond sites as of 2024.
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Testing phosphorus concentrations in samples.
Temperature and dissolved oxygen sensors.
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Carbon cycling and related processes in a lake system.
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Distribution of US lakes at varying levels of nutrient enrichment.
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Elver Pond in summer.
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Lakeview Pond in summer.
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Tiedeman's Pond in summer.
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