Partnership Continues with Watershed Local Libraries

By Carla Huston, Black Earth Library Director & Catherine Baer, Cross Plains Librarian

2025 will once again bring together representatives from BECWA, outreach specialists from the DNR and UW-Madison Biocore Program, and librarians from the Black Earth Public Library, Mazomanie Free Library and Rosemary Garfoot Public Library (Cross Plains) to learn about and explore Black Earth Creek. “Wading in Black Earth Creek” occurred Friday, August 15, with stream biologists leading a hands-on experience for kids of all ages. Activities focused on examining the diversity and populations of the creek, and included collecting macroinvertebrates, (ever popular) electroshocking to examine fish living in the creek, and learning to identify the invasive New Zealand Mud Snail. A second creek exploration is scheduled for Thursday October 30.

This collaboration is intended to engage our youth and support their education about Black Earth Creek and its importance to the Watershed. A hands-on experience encourages the investigation and curiosity that is so critical to keeping this unique and critical environment healthy. This immersive activity will hopefully build the foundation for an ongoing interest in the Watershed and the role community action plays in its well-being.

BECWA Chair Dr. Bobbi Peckarsky led a Black Earth Creek macroinvertebrate investigation with library families at Zander Park in Cross Plains

After demonstrating how creek fish populations are sampled using electroshocking to temporarily stun fish, Wisconsin DNR stream biologists Camille Bruhn and Kim Kuber helped young scientists learn how to sample creek macroinvertebrates with kick nets.