The Kinnickinnic River, designated as an “Outstanding Resource Water” by the Wisconsin Legislature, faces ongoing pressures and changes related to land use, population growth, environmental degradation, and climate change. In response, a multitude of scientific research has been initiated at various locations throughout the watershed in an effort to understand these issues and promote sustainabili
ty and resilience. However, the large number of projects across multiple fields of inquiry has made it difficult to be aware of what is being done where and by whom, coordinate research interests, and engage the community about the magnitude of work being done. Successful coordination of research and integration of scientific findings into management practices hinges on trusted relationships between stakeholders and UWRF researchers to identify existing projects, information needs, and how information is to be delivered. Thus, the goal of the Kinni Watershed Consortium (KWC) is to link campus-wide social-ecological research efforts taking place at UWRF with external agencies or organizations, actively communicate with the public about watershed issues, and provide undergraduate students opportunities to learn and practice research skills.
