River Alliance Of Wisconsin: Gambusia Infestation- Sugar River: The River Alliance of Wisconsin intends to test a technique to mechanically remove as many exotic Gambusia (mosquitofish) as possible from the slough where their population expanded this past summer. The goals of the project are to test this method of sequentially blocking sections of the slough from the mouth to the top, shocking, collecting, and netting, in a repeated fashion), and actually removing as many of these destructive fishes as possible in order to create a more favorable habitat for the return of the native topminnows. Without this action, the return of the native species would highly improbable after this drought year, which dried up most of their habitat in this and other river systems. Final results will be presented to DNR in a report, and via poster at the UW-Platteville poster day by another partner in the project from the UW.

Rock-Koshkonong Lake District: Res-Lake Koshkonong/Mud Lake Wetland Restoration: The Rock Koshkonong Lake District will use dredge spoils from a nearby location on the lake to re-create an eroded barrier of land that protects the Mud Lake wetland from the main lake\2019s wave action, arm the barrier with riprap, and re-create a wetland behind the barrier. This restored wetland is the subject of the grant, as well as the Mud Lake wetland complex which is being protected. Another facet of protecting the Mud Lake wetland from carp congregating there, the District will also build a navigation-friendly carp barrier between the lake and the wetland. In the spring, without such a barrier, carp migrate in great numbers into Mud Lake, creating disturbance to aquatic plants and displacing other fish spawning.

Decatur Lake Millrace Assoc: Decatur Lake Feasibility Study: Decatur Lake and Mill Race Association plans to conduct an objective assessment to identify lake planning options for improving water quality, habitat and recreational uses of Decatur Lake, located on the Sugar River. The project will include public information and education, gathering of public input, and scientific and engineering analysis of management alternatives. They will examine water quality, watershed and hydrology data. Volunteers will collect lake bathymetric data and supplement existing water quality data to help with sediment transport and nutrient cycling analyses. The project will also evaluate carp control options. This information will be compiled and analyzed to determine how the lake and it\2019s habitat can be improved. The final report will be shared with partners via local newspaper, websites and social media.

Decatur Lake Millrace Assoc: Decatur Lake Feasibility Study: Decatur Lake and Mill Race Association plans to conduct an objective assessment to identify lake planning options for improving water quality, habitat and recreational uses of Decatur Lake, located on the Sugar River. The project will include public information and education, gathering of public input, and scientific and engineering analysis of management alternatives. They will examine water quality, watershed and hydrology data. Volunteers will collect lake bathymetric data and supplement existing water quality data to help with sediment transport and nutrient cycling analyses. The project will also evaluate carp control options. This information will be compiled and analyzed to determine how the lake and it\2019s habitat can be improved. The final report will be shared with partners via local newspaper, websites and social media.

Decatur Lake Millrace Assoc: Decatur Lake Feasibility Study: Decatur Lake and Mill Race Association plans to conduct an objective assessment to identify lake planning options for improving water quality, habitat and recreational uses of Decatur Lake, located on the Sugar River. The project will include public information and education, gathering of public input, and scientific and engineering analysis of management alternatives. They will examine water quality, watershed and hydrology data. Volunteers will collect lake bathymetric data and supplement existing water quality data to help with sediment transport and nutrient cycling analyses. The project will also evaluate carp control options. This information will be compiled and analyzed to determine how the lake and it\2019s habitat can be improved. The final report will be shared with partners via local newspaper, websites and social media.

Decatur Lake Millrace Assoc: Decatur Lake Feasibility Study: Decatur Lake and Mill Race Association plans to conduct an objective assessment to identify lake planning options for improving water quality, habitat and recreational uses of Decatur Lake, located on the Sugar River. The project will include public information and education, gathering of public input, and scientific and engineering analysis of management alternatives. They will examine water quality, watershed and hydrology data. Volunteers will collect lake bathymetric data and supplement existing water quality data to help with sediment transport and nutrient cycling analyses. The project will also evaluate carp control options. This information will be compiled and analyzed to determine how the lake and it\2019s habitat can be improved. The final report will be shared with partners via local newspaper, websites and social media.

Decatur Lake Millrace Assoc: Decatur Lake Feasibility Study: Decatur Lake and Mill Race Association plans to conduct an objective assessment to identify lake planning options for improving water quality, habitat and recreational uses of Decatur Lake, located on the Sugar River. The project will include public information and education, gathering of public input, and scientific and engineering analysis of management alternatives. They will examine water quality, watershed and hydrology data. Volunteers will collect lake bathymetric data and supplement existing water quality data to help with sediment transport and nutrient cycling analyses. The project will also evaluate carp control options. This information will be compiled and analyzed to determine how the lake and it\2019s habitat can be improved. The final report will be shared with partners via local newspaper, websites and social media.

Decatur Lake Millrace Assoc: Dlmra Website Dev: The Decatur Lake Millrace Association plans to improve communication and outreach for their young organization by developing a website. This should help increase public awareness and broaden the conversation about things they can do to strengthen the organization and generate ideas and energy to improve the lake. The deliverables include creation and launching of a new website, a membership list, and training for website and list maintenance. A press release and presentation of website availability will be made to City of Brodhead, and posted at the local library to get the word out. A brief final report will be submitted electronically at the end of the grant.

Decatur Lake Millrace Assoc: Dlmra Website Dev: The Decatur Lake Millrace Association plans to improve communication and outreach for their young organization by developing a website. This should help increase public awareness and broaden the conversation about things they can do to strengthen the organization and generate ideas and energy to improve the lake. The deliverables include creation and launching of a new website, a membership list, and training for website and list maintenance. A press release and presentation of website availability will be made to City of Brodhead, and posted at the local library to get the word out. A brief final report will be submitted electronically at the end of the grant.

Dane County: Sugar River Capacity Building: Dane County will provide funding, administrative assistance, and planning assistance to help the establishment of three non-profit community organizations. This will extend existing efforts to protect land and water in the Upper Sugar River watershed. It will generate local support for conservation practices in the Sugar River watershed by including landowners and affected citizens in the planning and implementation of river protection strategies.

A full description of project scope and deliverables is available in the grant application, which is a part of this agreement.

Upper Sugar River Watershed Association: Upper Sugar River Wetlands Resource Area Plan: The Upper Sugar River Watershed Association will hire a part-time coordinator to develop their organization's ability to preserve and enhance the watershed.

A full description of project scope and deliverables is available in the grant application, which is part of this agreement. The DNR will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. Information will be disseminated to the public as described in the grant application.

Upper Sugar River Watershed Association: Capacity Building For Upper Sugar Rvr Watershed: The Upper Sugar River Watershed Association will employ a part-time coordinator to build the capacity and the sustainability of the Association, and to direct implimentation of the Association's strategic plan.

A full description of project scope and deliverables is available in the grant application, which is part of this agreement. The DNR will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. Information will be disseminated to the public as described in the grant application.

Lower Sugar River Watershed Association: Organizational Building/Citizen Scientists: The LSRWA will undertake a River Planning Project that will address organizational and land and water conservation/management goals. Project deliverables are as follows: 1.) Acquire a laptop and software to facilitate communications and enable centralized recordkeeping, accounting, and database development, 2.) Continue to develop and implement a fundraising plan and membership program, 3.) Hold citizen science training and workshops (Watershed Rapid Assessment Survey annually and four restoration workshops), 4.) Promote and disseminate the restoration template to demonstrate and implement best management practices (BMPs) with willing landowners, 5.) Develop watershed education programming to increase watershed literacy in schools and the community, 6.) Continue funding part-time staff position to carry out daily operations, 7.) Create \201CWatershed Issues Orientation Folders\201D and add organization documents to the LSRWA website, 8.) Ongoing website maintenance and development.

Upper Sugar River Watershed Association: Planning For Next 5 Years: The Upper Sugar River Watershed Association (USRWA) will undertake a River Planning Grant Project to update the strategic plan for the Upper Sugar River Watershed (USRW). Project deliverables are as follows: 1.) Form a strategic planning committee that will engage stakeholders from various backgrounds in the strategic planning process, 2.) Create more comprehensive maps of the USRW by working with a GIS contractor to survey the watershed and use GIS software functionality to determine areas of greatest conservation or monitoring needs. USRWA will also utilize map products in its strategic planning efforts and make the information available to the public on their website. 3.) Work with the River Alliance of Wisconsin to facilitate a half day Board of Directors retreat to compile and consider information gathered at various public meetings and draft a five year strategic plan to be considered by the Board at the next meeting, 4.) Produce a comprehensive strategic plan for the USRWA.

Lower Sugar River Watershed Association: Lsrwa: Org Capacity Bldg, Ed/Outreach, Website And Fundraising: The LSRWA will:

Program Director will: communicate regularly w/ team/project leads and volunteers; organize volunteers gathered by team/project leads for grant funded projects/events; streamline record keeping, reporting, and project deliverables utilizing/maintaining laptop/software, cloud storage, data forms; attend/report at regular board meetings/work sessions.

Refine fundraising/membership plan in a minimum of two workshops in the 1st 1/4 quarter of 2015, assess outcomes of 2014 programming and alignment with strategic and fundraising/membership plan; review programming for 2015/2016 using lessons learned in first workshop; conduct critical analysis at the end of 2015.

Conduct 3 website training sessions for the maintenance team; contract for 2 or more web page upgrades/repairs; cover quarterly web hosting fees; conduct critical review of website function.

Deliverables:

Project Director will average 16-20 hours per week for approx. 26 weeks.

Update membership; prepare/execute Fundraising & Membership Workshop; refine/ update fundraising and membership plan; apply fundraising plan goals, objectives, & strategies to all 2015/16 events; complete a critical analysis of 2015 events -provide a summary to WDNR.

A watershed lesson segment with the Brodhead School will be completed. LSRWA will collaborate with Harvard University students to create a tabletop 3-D model of the entire Sugar River Watershed. Harvard students will create a video detailing the design and construction process, which will be used along with the completed model to continue to engage Brodhead and other watershed school students and the community in watershed education opportunities.

Conduct three website training sessions with the LSRWA Web Maintenance Team; minimum of two web page upgrades/repairs; quarterly web-hosting fees; critical review of website functionality. Provide summary to WDNR of upgrades, functionality and usage.

Friends Of Beckman Mill Inc: Friends Of Beckman Mill, Inc. Fish Passageway: The Friends of Beckman Mill, Inc. will construct a natural looking fish passageway that will protect the threatened and endangered species found in the stream. The fish passageway will also increase public awarenes about fish behavior and solutions to fish migration around obstructions.

A full description of project scope and deliverables is available in the grant application, which is part of this agreement. The DNR will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. Information will be disseminated to the public as described in the grant application.

Friends Of Beckman Mill Inc: Friends Of Beckman Mill, Inc. Fish Passageway: The Friends of Beckman Mill, Inc. will construct a natural looking fish passageway that will protect the threatened and endangered species found in the stream. The fish passageway will also increase public awarenes about fish behavior and solutions to fish migration around obstructions.

A full description of project scope and deliverables is available in the grant application, which is part of this agreement. The DNR will be provided with both a paper copy and an electronic copy of the final report. Information will be disseminated to the public as described in the grant application.