TCTU Streamkeeper Report - April 2022

​Greetings from your TCTU Streamkeepers, and welcome to the spring season.  As we begin the stream monitoring program for 2022, the season has been marked with cool temperatures and plenty of rain and snow.  We expect that area streams may rebound well after last year’s drought conditions and extremely warm temperatures
Overall, our stream temperatures are currently in the 40-degree range, clarity in streams is good, and there has been little or no spring flooding due to a slow snow melt.
Last year was the first year of our “targeted” Streamkeeping monitoring efforts on Hay Creek, Trout Brook, and the South Vermillion.  Our “targeted” Streamkeeper teams were successful in monitoring these streams at least ten times over the course of the season and started establishing baseline data.

Our 2022 plan for “targeted” Streamkeeping is to expand our team sizes and add two additional streams.  We will now also be monitoring the Little Cannon River and Belle Creek.  The monitoring season begins in April and will conclude in October.
In addition to our “targeted” Streamkeepers, we also have dozens of “general” Streamkeepers that are monitoring streams in a more random fashion and covering a much larger area.  Many of these readings are in the driftless areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin and beyond. 
If you are not a Streamkeeper, the WISEH2O app can be of interest to anglers as well.  Downloading and checking the WISEH2) app is an excellent way of finding out some stream conditions in terms of temperature and streamflow by filtering results by date and clicking on the location blue tab.  Please note that the preferences, monitoring networks, and locations displayed will vary if you select TCTU or TU.  The TU network covers a much larger area and more streams.
Are you interested in becoming a “general” Streamkeeper?  Those who are interested in WiseH2O App monitoring in 2022 can take the following steps:

1. Download the WiseH2O App:  Android and iPhone versions of the WiseH2O App are available for free download at the Google Play Store and Apple Store (search WiseH2O). Instructions for downloading the WiseH2O App can be found in the WiseH20 App User Guide, located on the MobileH2O website: https://www.mobileh2o.com/mh2oapp.
2. Complete On-Line Training:  Detailed on-line instructions for use of the WiseH2O App can be found in the WiseH20 App User Guide and the Video Tutorial for Using the WiseH2O App, both located on the MobileH2O website: https://www.mobileh2o.com/mh2oapp.  

I will also provide additional training via zoom or on-stream demonstrations.  If you need additional training, please contact Jim Sauter at:  jim.sauter@twincitiestu.org

1. Obtain Water Chemistry Test Kits:  Depending on your level of interest and desired extent of involvement with water chemistry monitoring, 3 types of test kits are available. These three test kits can be ordered directly from MobileH2O, at: https://www.mobileh2o.com/shop.  A reliable thermometer for WiseH2O App temperature measurements can also be purchased at: https://www.mobileh2o.com/shop.  

For those that have financial need, I do have some basic WISEH2O kits available to members.  Just let me know and we can work out the details.
We plan to demonstrate the WISEH2O app at a variety of TCTU events, such as the Goodhue FFA Ag Day and with students in the Trout in the Classroom trout releases this spring.
Our Streamkeepers are very excited to begin our monitoring efforts on area streams in the coming weeks.
For more information on the TCTU Streamkeeper project, please contact Jim Sauter at:  jim.sauter@twincitiestu.org

WISEH2O APP TRAINING AT THE SOUTH VERMILLION RIVER, APRIL 2022, PHOTO BY JIM SAUTER

SOUTH VERMILLION, PHOTO BY TONI THOMAS, tthomasphotography.com

SOUTH VERMILLION, CEDAR WAXWING, PHOTO BY TONI THOMAS, tthomasphotography.com