2020 Angler Science Driftless Area Report
Ambitious intentions for expansion of the Trout Unlimited (TU) Angler Science Driftless Area Program in 2020 were greatly hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the Program was intended to expand from Pierce County (WI), monitored by the TU Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter in 2019, to the other 14 TU Chapters, US Fish and Wildlife (US FWS) staff, and Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) staff with regions active in the Driftless Area. Though hindered by COVID-19, in 2020 the program advanced by:
144 observations were still made in the Driftless Area (see map below)
Observation locations made throughout the Driftless Area in 2020
WiseH2O mApp is freely available in the Google Play Store and Apple Store,
Information on the significance of water quality results on fish and ecosystem habitat,
Informational pages for pH letting users know how the observed water quality values influence cold water fish and their ecosystem.
Written and video training materials, available on the mApp and the MobileH2O website (https://www.mobileh2o.com/mh2oapp),
Dedicated Angler Science Driftless Area Program website (https://www.mobileh2o.com/driftlessprogram),
Preparing a “Get Started Guide for Participants”, for organizations and individuals joining the Angler Science Program (https://www.mobileh2o.com/driftlessprogram), and
Establishing an online store for the purchase of test kits (https://www.mobileh2o.com/shop).
2020 Annual Reports
The 2020 annual report summarizes the efforts to expand the Angler Science Driftless Area Program, describes improvements to the supporting infrastructure and WiseH2O mobile application (mApp), and presents summary 2020 monitoring results.
Sponsors
We would like to thank the Angler Science Driftless Area Program sponsors and participating TU Chapters, organizations, agencies, and individuals. Financial contributors include Trout Unlimited’s Coldwater Conservation Fund, TU Driftless Area Restoration Effort (TUDARE), US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and National Fish Habitat Partnership. Finally, we would like to thank all the TU Chapters and their members for contributing their time towards helping to characterize the trout stream conditions in the Driftless Area.
