Action-Oriented Programs or Projects (volunteer opportunities)
	Background Information (information, data, maps, etc.)
	Education Resource Materials (activities, curriculum, videos, etc.)
	Managing Governmental Agencies (federal, state, regional)
	Organizations (professional and environmental)
	Political Information Sites

Adopt-A-Lake http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/ adopt-a-lake/	This interdisciplinary program encourages youth to learn about inland lakes and aquatic ecosystems in Wisconsin while actively working to protect those resources through hands-on activities. The program encourages youth to work with their community in designing and implementing a lake protection project. Sponsored by University of Wisconsin Extension (UWEX).
Adopt-A-Stream http://www.streamkeeper.org/	The Adopt-A-Stream Foundation (AASF), founded in 1985 as a non-profit environmental education and habitat restoration organization, assists people in becoming actively involved in stream enhancement and environmental education. AASF's mission is “To teach people to become stewards of their watersheds.” Volunteers adopt a stream and provide long-term care of the stream by monitoring, restoring, and educating their community about the stream.  The web site provides information on habitat restoration, education, streamkeeper tools, opportunities, and links.
Adopt-A-Watershed http://www.adopt-a-watershed.org/	This K-12 school-community learning experience uses a local watershed as a living laboratory in which students engage in hands-on activities, making science applicable and relevant to their lives. Students are encouraged to understand the relationship among all living things and apply this knowledge to their local environment. This is a school-community learning experience with real problem solving and community action. Adopt-A-Watershed is a non-profit organization that started in 1988 and has over 30 sponsors.
Awesome Aquifer Club (AAC) http://www.groundwater.org/ KidsCorner/AAC.htm	AAC is a program that encourages students in 4th and 5th grades to learn about groundwater in the classroom throughout the school year. AAC provides students with the opportunity to become involved in groundwater protection activities within their hometown as well as share lessons learned with other students at the annual Children's Groundwater Festival. Teachers sign-up for the program in the fall. Teachers receive basic information about groundwater and a kit full of activities and resources for the classroom. Sponsored by the Groundwater Foundation.
Drinking Water Education Programs http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/gndwater/	The Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center offers groundwater and drinking water education programs for adults through county-based Extension faculty, interprets drinking water test results, and shares groundwater data.
Earth Force http://www.earthforce.org	This youth-driven organization's mission is commitment to using watershed education and action to improve the environmental health of communities in countries around the world.
Educating Young People About Water http://www.uwex.edu/erc/ywc/	Educating Young People About Water materials can help you develop a community-based, youth water education program that targets youth and links key community members in partnerships.  All involved work towards common water education goals. Sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Extension (UWEX).
Environmental Task Force Program (ETF) http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/etf	ETF began in 1972 to work on soil and water quality problems. A range of studies on groundwater, lakes, streams, and watersheds have been conducted. A certified water lab tests water samples for organic and inorganic chemicals. This is a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources program (UWSP, CNR).
Farm-A-Syst http://www.uwex.edu/farmasyst	The Farm-A-Syst program enables you to determine and prevent potential health and financial risks from pollution on farms, ranches, and in homes.  The program offers step-by-step fact sheets and worksheets to aid you in assessing the behaviors and practices that are creating the risks. Sponsored by University of Wisconsin Extension (UWEX).
Give Water a Hand http://www.uwex.edu/erc/gwah	This program teams young people with educators, natural resource experts and committed community members to study water issues and take action through a community service project to protect and improve water resources. Two guides can be downloaded free. Sponsored by University of Wisconsin Extension (UWEX).
Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) http://www.earthforce.org/green/	GREEN provides opportunities for young people to understand, improve, and sustain watersheds in their community by learning about water quality and using their findings to create solutions.  This program is designed for middle and high school students to teach them skills in critical thinking, teamwork, problem solving and decision making.
Great Lakes National Program http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/	This program focuses on protection and restoration activities for the Great Lakes. Services and activities include contaminated sediment assignment grants , long-term trend monitoring of open lake waters , habitat protection and restoration grants, pollution prevention grants, and technical expertise. Sponsored by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Groundwater Festival http://www.groundwater.org/ ProgEvent/festival.htm	The Children's Groundwater Festival is an annual one-day event serving 4th and 5th grade students. At the festival, lively entertainment and interactive displays are led by groundwater and natural resources professionals representing government agencies, environmental organizations, higher education, and private business. The activities are designed to teach children about groundwater while they have fun. Use the Making Waves booklet to plan your water education event. Sponsored by the Groundwater Foundation.
Groundwater Guardian http://www.groundwater.org/ Guardian/ggindex.htm	Beginning in 1994, the Groundwater Guardian program encourages communities to begin groundwater awareness and protection activities, supports the communities in their efforts, then recognizes their achievements. Communities begin the process by forming a team consisting of citizens, business and/or agricultural representatives, educators, and local government officials. Then the group lists Result Oriented Activities (ROAs) to address the community's groundwater protection concerns. ROAs fall into many categories including education and awareness, pollution prevention, public policy, conservation, and best management practices. The team chooses at least one ROA to implement. Sponsored by the Groundwater Foundation.
Groundwater University (GU) http://www.groundwater.org/ KidsCorner/GU.htm	Groundwater University (GU) educates 8th-10th grade students about groundwater at a three-day camp in June. It involves students and groundwater experts from across the United States. GU is implemented by the Groundwater Foundation with the common goal of setting young people's sights on the importance of groundwater. Sponsored by the Groundwater Foundation.
Home-A-Syst http://www.uwex.edu/homeasyst	The Home-A-Syst program enables you to identify and take action against potential risks to your family's health and the environment. The program begins with checklist-type questions to identify problem areas in your household or with your drinking water. Sponsored by University of Wisconsin Extension (UWEX).
Kids for Saving Earth Worldwide http://www.kidsforsavingearth.org	The mission of KSE is to educate, inspire and empower children to protect the Earth's environment. KSE worldwide offers information on action-oriented programs with educational materials to individual kids, clubs, classrooms and schools.
River/Watershed Program http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/etf	The base flow monitoring and high flow monitoring programs focus on providing data and educational information to help understand and manage rivers/watersheds. The Environmental Task Force (ETF) Lab can assist with sampling information, bottles, and analyses, and data management. These are University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources programs (UWSP, CNR).
Save Our Streams (SOS) http://www.iwla.org/SOS/index.html	Since 1969, the SOS has been a leader in citizen education in water quality monitoring, watershed restoration, and the importance of wetland protection. The mission of the SOS Program is to help communities achieve sustainability of their water resources through education and technical support; and to inspire stewardship and conservation of local watersheds. Over the years, SOS has responded effectively to an increased need for information and training by developing handbooks, videos, and workshops that present scientific concepts in a manner that lay people can understand. Sponsored by the Izaak Walton League.
Self-Help Lake Monitoring Program http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/ fhp/lakes/shlmmain.htm	Self-Help Lake Monitoring, the core of the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership, wants to collect high quality data, to educate and empower volunteers, and to share this data and knowledge. This lake monitoring program has over 900 volunteers of all ages that observe and document how the water quality of a lake changes over time by measuring water quality. Volunteers may also identify and map plants and watch for the appearance of zebra mussels. Sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Water Action Volunteers (WAV) http://clean-water.uwex.edu/wav/index.html	WAV is a state-wide program for adults and youth who want to learn about and improve the quality of Wisconsin's waterways. Volunteer groups are given educational tools to care for a local stream or riverway through projects and hands-on activities. WAV offers 8 action programs that promote good environmental stewardship while benefiting a community's water resources (stream walk survey, erosion in a bottle, watershed in a box, stream or river clean-up, storm drain stenciling, human watershed, critter search). Each programs contains free background information, fact sheets, and step-by-step directions. Sponsored by University of Wisconsin Extension (UWEX).

Back to the Top

	General Science, Environmental Education, and Math
	General Water
	Groundwater

General Science, Environmental Education, and Math
Ed Gateway http://www.edgateway.net/ee	Ed Gateway is a web-based electronic communication system that sets up conference rooms for specific groups in science, math, and environmental education. Registration is free.
ERIC Clearinghouse (Educational Resources Information Center) http://www.ericse.org	The Clearinghouse is a component of the Educational Resources Information Center, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The site provides access to the best information available for teaching and learning about science, mathematics, and the environment through educational resources, resources for parents and children, bookstore, publications, and additional links.
Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC) http://www.enc.org	ENC's mission is to identify effective curriculum resources, create high-quality professional development materials, and disseminate useful information and products to improve K-12 mathematics and science teaching and learning. ENC offers free products and services, acquires and catalogs math and science curriculum resources, provides the best selection of resources on the Internet, supports teachers' professional development, and collaborates with many other organizations. The site contains curriculum resources, web links, and professional resources.
National Environmental Education Advancement Project (NEEAP) http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/neeap	NEEAP is a national organization which aids state and local environmental education leaders in promoting their environmental education efforts, and develops informational items on building state capacity for environmental education. NEEAP is a member of the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP).
Nature Net http://www.naturenet.com	This site provides one stop shopping for environmental education resources for teachers, parents, and kids of South-Central Wisconsin and beyond. The site contains information on 16 nature centers, teacher resources, parent page, kids' corner.   Nature net is a consortium of 16 different nature centers who want to share ideas and educational resources on how to explore your local environment with local residents.
Portage County Public Libraries http://www.library.uwsp.edu/pcl/	The library site contains an on-line catalog, as well as other resources.  Each of the four county libraries contains a hard copy of  the Groundwater References and Publications Guide, which contains over 200 groundwater publications from variety of sources.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's (DPI) Academic Standards http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/standards	The DPI site provides a listing of the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for the core subjects, as well as environmental education and other subjects.
General Water
Environmental Education for Kids (EEK) http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/eek	EEK is an environmental site with information and activities on a variety of natural resource topics for kids and teachers. Includes pages on the water cycle.
EPA Surf Your Watershed http://www.epa.gov/surf/	This web site contains databases on sites dedicated to environmental issues and information, watershed groups throughout the nation, wetlands restoration projects, a bulletin board to discuss environmental issues, and a directory of services to help communities revitalize their rivers.
Environmental Resource Center (ERC) http://www.uwex.edu/erc/	Established in the late 1960s, the ERC provides technical and educational support in the areas of water quality and soil productivity.
Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) http://www.great-lakes.net/index.html	GLIN is a partnership that provides information on the binational Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region of North America. The site offers a wealth of data and information about the region's environment, economy, tourism, education and more. Due to its strong network, GLIN has become a component of informed decision-making, and a reliable source of information.
Great Lakes Online-Sea Grant Program http://h2o.seagrant.wisc.edu/home.html	Established as a partnership of federal, state, university, and private sectors in 1968, the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Program includes basic and applied research, education, and outreach and technology transfer dedicated to the stewardship and sustainable use of the Great Lakes and ocean resources. It has historically emphasized research on microcontaminants and water quality, fishery and ecosystem dynamics, and estuarine systems and management. This site is a source of aquatic science information for anyone interested in the Great Lakes and the oceans, and includes education and fun stuff categories.
Know Your Watershed http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/kyw/kyw.html	This web site allows you to locate your watershed and provides a link to the National Watershed Network, library of tools and information resources, watershed information, and groundwater information.
Upper Mississippi Basin Stakeholder Network http://www.umbsn.org	UMBSN is a voluntary, locally led, private land conservation program for reducing the loss of soil and nutrients from agricultural and urban activities in the basin.  UMBSN is a process to connect farm organizations, environmental organizations, watershed management alliances, county land and water conservation districts, citizen action organizations, landowners, tribes, and federal/state agencies.   This site offers an extensive list of links to programs, management efforts, organizations, and local offices responsible for Upper Mississippi Basin land conservation, sediment, nutrient, and water quality management. It features pertinent news from the agriculture, environmental, citizen action, legislative, and tribal sectors. It also contains an events and meeting calendar.
USGS Stream Flows United States: http://water.usgs.gov/dwc/  Wisconsin: http://wi.water.usgs.gov/ rt-cgi/gen_tbl_pg	The map and tables depict daily streamflow conditions as measured at USGS gauging stations. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used. States containing no dots indicate locations where real-time flow data for the current day are temporarily unavailable. During winter months, some states (or parts of states) may have fewer dots than at other times of the year due to ice effects. The data is organized by river basin.
USGS Topographic Maps topographic: http://mapping.usgs.gov/ mac/findmaps.html  geologic/thematic: http://geology.usgs.gov/ maps.html  hydrologic: http://water.usgs.gov/ GIS/huc.html  On-line USGS maps & aerial photos: http://mapping.usgs.gov/partners/ viewonline.html  price list: http://mac.usgs.gov/mac/ isb/pubs/orms/usgspl.html	These sites lists USGS map dealers and gives instructions for ordering a variety of maps and other products from USGS. Some of the maps are available on-line.
Water Education Foundation (WEF) http://www.water-ed.org	Established in 1977, WEF is a non-profit organization whose mission is to see how the state of California addresses the issue of water. Some of the information and educational products listed on this site may provide ideas for Wisconsin actions and activities.
Groundwater
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) main page: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us  drinking water: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ org/water/dwg  groundwater: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ org/water/dwg/gw	DNR, the lead state agency in protecting and improving Wisconsin's groundwater, has a bureau dedicated to groundwater and drinking water management, which provides educational information, publications, and wellhead protection programs; collects well construction reports; and enforces groundwater standards. DNR also regulates solid and hazardous wastes and wastewater systems. The drinking water page contains results for recent water tests for your community. A list of certified water testing labs can be found at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/science/lc/search/  Well construction reports and high-capacity well information are available at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/dws.htm
EPA's Ground Water and Drinking Water http://www.epa.gov/safewater	This web site contains information on drinking water and health basics, local drinking water information, source water protection, drinking water standards, public drinking water systems, underground injection control, and kid's games.
Green Seal http://www.greenseal.org	Green Seal promotes environmentally friendly products by providing a 110 page guide listing current "green" products.  Many of these products are cleaners.
Groundwater Atlas of the United States http://sr6capp.er.usgs.gov/gwa/	This USGS series of print publications describes the location, extent, geologic and hydrologic characteristics of the important aquifers of the United States. The site contains an online version, as well as ordering information for hard copies.
Groundwater Observation Network http://wi.water.usgs.gov/gw/	The groundwater observation network, established in 1946,  includes water levels measured in approximately 140 wells throughout Wisconsin. The network is part of a comprehensive and ongoing effort to maintain a water resource database responsive to the needs of the state and the nation. This program continues through the efforts of the USGS-WRD staff and an extensive network of observers, who measure water levels in wells daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
Groundwater Remediation Technologies Analysis Center http://www.gwrta.org	This site contains national groundwater data.
Groundwater Retrieval Network (GRN)-DNR http://oraweb.dnr.state.wi.us/ inter1/plsql/grn$.startup	This system contains a wealth of Wisconsin groundwater data from multiple sources on public and private drinking water supply wells, special groundwater studies, and landfill wells.  Data includes reports from the DNR: Public Water Supply starting in the early 1970s,  Private Water Supply starting in 1988, and the  Bureau of Waste's Groundwater and Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) starting in the mid 1970s.   Not all programs which currently generate groundwater-related data are linked into the GRN system. Data from the Bureau of Remediation and Redevelopment (leaking underground storage tanks (LUST), spills, or remediation sites), as well as data from the Bureau of Watershed Management (wastewater treatment facilities and land spreading sites) are not currently retrievable through the GRN system. The web site includes information on well inventory, well owner, water sample data results, and groundwater sample data results by locality.
Groundwater.Com http://groundwater.com/ groundwater_links.html	This site was set up in 1995 to serve the groundwater community. Groundwater.com covers groundwater-related: equipment, published paper, news items, magazines, consultants, software, a job search page, links, and publications, and more.
Integrated Pest and Crop Management (IPCM) http://ipcm.wisc.edu/	This site contains useful information on food safety, recommended agricultural practices, and environmental protection.  These three issues are the focus of Wisconsin's IPCM program.
National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) http://wwwrvares.er.usgs.gov/ nawqa/nawqa_home.html	This program is designed to describe the status and trends in the quality of the Nation's ground- and surface-water resources and to provide a sound understanding of the natural and human factors that  affect the quality of these resources. As part of the program, investigations will be conducted in 59 areas called "study units." This site contains multiple national data sets, as well as publications.
USGS Water Resources and Groundwater Resources Water: http://water.usgs.gov/  Groundwater:  http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/	Both UGSG sites contain water or groundwater information, publications, programs, techniques, other resources, and much more.
University of Wisconsin Extension (UWEX)-Clean Water http://clean-water.uwex.edu	This UWEX site offers information about water quality programs and related environmental concerns in Wisconsin, as well as publications.
Watercourse Program http://www.montana.edu/ wwwwater/index.html	Established in 1989, Watercourse Program is a not-for profit water science and education program based at Montana State University, Bozeman. Specializing in the development of educational materials on water and water-related management issues, the Watercourse distributes these materials through training workshops and institutes. The goal is to promote and facilitate public understanding of atmospheric, surface, and ground water resources and related management issues through publications, instruction, and networking. The scope of The Watercourse Program is international.
Water Resource Institute-University of Wisconsin http://wri.wisc.edu	Created in 1964, this is one of 54 Water Resources Research Institutes nationwide. It promotes research, training, and information dissemination to effectively confront regional water and land related resource problems. Research areas encompass groundwater and surface water, water supply and quality, wastewater treatment and disposal, watershed management and nonpoint pollution, pollution cleanup and remediation, and public health. Associated economic, social and political issues are also investigated. The site contains information on water education curricula and web sites, projects, funding opportunities, conferences, a library, and links. The Water Resources Library (WRL) maintains a collection of more than 23,000 cataloged water-related technical reports in the hard copy and fiche, 8,600 cataloged reprints, and 5,500 uncataloged reprints on microfiche; subscribes to more than 30 journals important in water-related research; received more than 130 newsletters from around the country. WRL catalog has been added to the online University of Wisconsin Library catalog, MadCat, making the WRL's collection a nationwide resource whose holdings can be searched via the Internet.

EE-Link: Environmental Education Resources on the Internet http://eelink.net	This is a comprehensive web site for exploring environmental education on the Internet. Contains information for classroom activities and resources, professional development, environmental organizations and more. Check out the links listed under the activities category, "fresh water."
Environmental Health Management Institute (EHMI) http://www.ehmi.org	Founded in 1979, EHMI is a nonpartisan, nonprofit environmental, health, and safety education and research organization working to promote environmental responsibility at home, in the workplace, and in the community through education and relationship building. This site contains information on educational outreach tools, community resources, research initiatives, household wheel, and environmental careers. Products include enviro-wheels, bookcovers, color-in activity books , color-in posters, EHMI Earth Express Publication, video and a multimedia kit. Topics of coverage include water quality, lead poisoning, energy and water conservation, household hazards, recycling, composting, and air quality.
EPA's Environmental Education Center http://www.epa.gov/teachers	This site contains information on curriculum & resource activities, community service projects, workshops/conferences, student jobs, scholarships, awards, grants, and other links.
EPA's Ground Water & Drinking Water Kid's Page http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ kids/index.html	This web site contains games and activities on water for kids in grades K-12.
EPA's Student Center http://www.epa.gov/students	This web site contains information and activities on water, ecosystems, human health, waste & recycling, air, and conservation. The site also provides scholarships, youth awards, and club projects.
Project Learning Tree (PLT) National: http://www.plt.org  Wisconsin:  http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ org/caer/ce/pltwild/plt.htm	PLT is an environmental education program with for adults working with pre-K-12th grade students. It's mission is to increase students' understanding of our environment; stimulate critical and creative thinking; develop the ability to make informed decisions on environmental issues; and instill the commitment to take responsible action on behalf of the environment. The PLT pre-K-8th Guide offers 100+ hands-on activities that focus on forests, land, air, and water, and are easily adaptable to many settings.  PLT also offers Secondary Modules with each focusing on a particular topic like "Focus on Forests," "Risk Management," or "The Built Environment."  All guides may be obtained by attending a PLT workshop.
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) National: http://www.montana.edu/wwwwet/  Wisconsin: http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/ wet/default.asp	WET is an environmental education program for adults working with pre-K-12th grade students. It promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through over 90 water-related, hands-on, fun, and easy to use activities.  Activities are appropriate for school, nature centers, camps, and youth group functions.  Wisconsin also offers a supplement guide that accompanies the national guide, both of which can be obtained by attending a WET workshop.
Project WILD and Aquatic Wild National: http://www.wild.org  Wisconsin: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/ caer/ce/pltwild/wild.htm	WILD is a conservation and environmental education program for adults working with pre-K-12th grade students. It emphasizing awareness, appreciation and understanding of wildlife and natural resources. The 150+ hands-on activities focus on wildlife and habitats in the WILD guide.  The Aquatic WILD guide contains 40 activities focusing on the aquatic ecosystem.  Both guides can be obtained by attending a WILD workshop.
Water Resource Institute-University of Wisconsin http://wri.wisc.edu	Created in 1964, this is one of 54 Water Resources Research Institutes nationwide. It promotes research, training, and information dissemination to effectively confront regional water and land related resource problems. Research areas encompass groundwater and surface water, water supply and quality, wastewater treatment and disposal, watershed management and nonpoint pollution, pollution cleanup and remediation, and public health. Associated economic, social and political issues are also investigated. The site contains information on water education curricula and web sites, projects, funding opportunities, conferences, a library, and links. The Water Resources Library (WRL) maintains a collection of more than 23,000 cataloged water-related technical reports in the hard copy and fiche, 8,600 cataloged reprints, and 5,500 uncataloged reprints on microfiche; subscribes to more than 30 journals important in water-related research; received more than 130 newsletters from around the country. WRL catalog has been added to the online University of Wisconsin Library catalog, MadCat, making the WRL's collection a nationwide resource whose holdings can be searched via the Internet.
Water Science for Schools http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/	This site was created by USGS specifically for schools.  It offers information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can give opinions and test your water knowledge. Topics include earth's water, water basics, water use, groundwater, and more.
Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee	WCEE's mission is to promote, develop, disseminate, implement, and evaluate environmental education programs for K-12 teachers and students in Wisconsin. WCEE provides environmental education (EE) outreach courses, extended master degree program for teachers, HS environmental action conference, Wisconsin EE network, and EE resource library. The library, which is for use by elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers in Wisconsin, is located  in the Learning Resources Center at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The resource library holds an up-to-date collection of EE materials including curriculum activity guides, textbooks, children's literature, reference books, periodicals, computer software, videotapes, music tapes, and educational games. There is a large selection of groundwater and water educational resources.
World Resources Institute (WRI) http://www.wri.org/wri/enved	This site offers teacher guides on topics from the atmosphere to watersheds. The lessons focus on the environment and social-economic development. WRI also has videos, transparencies, and slides.

  For additional educational resources, check out the Teaching and Learning section         

Local
Environmental Task Force Lab (ETF) http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/etf	ETF performs studies on groundwater, lakes, streams, and watersheds as well as operates a state certified water-testing laboratory.  Water samples may be tested for organic and inorganic chemicals such as nitrate, pesticides, heavy metals, and more.
Portage County Health and  Human Services (PCHHS) http://www.co.portage.wi.us/ health_and_human_.htm	PCHHS Environmental Health Section's mission is to prevent disease and assure conditions in which Portage County residents can be healthy through controlling environmental hazards to improve health, safety, and well-being.  The Environmental Health Section programs include:  license and inspect public facilities (enforcement, food & water-borne outbreak investigations, complaint investigations),  inspect and sample transient, non-community water systems (private wells serving buildings open to the public),  general environmental health services (residential well sampling and inspection for unsafe samples, weekly pool and beach sampling for bacteria, health investigations, indoor air monitoring,  information), and  a state certified water testing laboratory for private and municipal wells.  Water samples may be tested for coliform bacteria, nitrate, fluoride, iron, and pH.
Portage County Groundwater Citizens Advisory Committee (PCGCAC) http://www.uwsp.edu/water/portage/ manage/pcgcac/index.htm	PCGCAC's role is to gather views and concerns regarding groundwater protection and management in Portage County from individual citizens and municipal governing boards, and to present recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Committee for consideration by the  Portage County Board.  PCGCAC is also responsible for this website.
Portage County Planning & Zoning (Planning & Zoning) main page: http://www.co.portage.wi.us  Planning & Zoning page: http://www.co.portage.wi.us/planningzoning/   e-mail: groundwater@portage.co.wi.us	P&Z oversees the County's planning and zoning, wellhead protection ordinances, and soil and water conservation.  It also manages the groundwater resource according to the Groundwater Management Plan.
State
Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center (CWGC) http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/gndwater	CWGC helps Wisconsin citizens and governments manage the groundwater resource wisely, through education, public information, applied research, and technical assistance.  Offers drinking water education programs for citizens
Department of Agriculture Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP) http://datcp.state.wi.us	DATCP provides services in consumer and business information, complaint handling, lab testing, agricultural development and marketing services, farm assistance, and more.  DATCP has educational information and administers/enforces rules on pesticide use, agricultural chemical storage, soil and water resource management, and water bottler licensing.  Grants are offered in nutrient management planning.
Department of Commerce (Comm) http://www.commerce.state.wi.us	Comm regulates the installation and operation of private septic systems and petroleum storage tanks, maintains records for tank ownership, and approves home water treatment devices.
Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us	DHFS inspects restaurant, hotel, motel, and campground water supplies, recommends enforcement standards for substances in groundwater related to health concerns, investigates health effects from contamination incidents, and interprets water test results.
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) main page: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us  drinking water: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ org/water/dwg groundwater: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ org/water/dwg/gw	DNR, the lead state agency in protecting and improving Wisconsin's groundwater,  has a bureau dedicated to groundwater and drinking water management, which provides educational information, publications, and wellhead protection programs; collects well construction reports; and enforces groundwater standards.  DNR also maintains a list of certified water testing labs and regulates solid and hazardous wastes and wastewater systems.
Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC) http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/gcc	GCC is comprised of state government officials, the governor, and local and federal governments.  It advises and assists state agencies in the coordination of non-regulatory programs and the exchange of information related to groundwater, and provides public outreach and educational materials.
University of Wisconsin Extension (UWEX) main page: http://www.uwex.edu  water resource program: http://clean-water.uwex.edu	UWEX partners with local, county, state and federal government to address public issues and local needs.  UWEX develops practical educational programs based on university knowledge and research in the areas of agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, and natural resources.  Many publications and services are available on nutrient and pest management, soil testing, drinking water, and groundwater.
Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey (WGNHS) http://www.uwex.edu/wgnhs	WGNHS conducts earth-science surveys, field studies, and research about the geology, mineral resources, water resources, climate, soil, and biology of Wisconsin.  It collects and distributes maps, well construction reports, publications, and other information.
Federal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) main page: http://www.epa.gov  groundwater and drinking water:  http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW  office of water:  http://www.epa.gov/OW  region 5:  http://www.epa.gov/region5	EPA is the federal agency responsible for establishing standards for drinking water, groundwater, pesticides, and more. EPA offers publications and information on regulations, databases, source water protection, public drinking water programs, drinking water and health basics, drinking water standards program, underground injection control, local drinking water, and kid's stuff.
Golden Sands Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) http://www.goldensandsrcd.org	RC&D works with local people and farmers to address groundwater problems and concerns.
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) http://www.nrcs.usda.gov	NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment.  Areas of assistance and education include soil and water resource management, protection practices, nutrient and pest management planning, and livestock waste management.
United States Geologic Survey (USGS) main page: http://www.usgs.gov  water resource division: http://www-ne.cr.usgs.gov	USGS produces and distributes maps, collects data, and conducts studies regarding groundwater quality and quantity, groundwater levels, stream flows, lakes and reservoirs, and physical and biological characteristics of surface water.

	Education and Environmental Education
	General Environmental
	Geosciences (geology, hydrology, soil)
	Groundwater
	Land Conservation
	Water

Wisconsin.gov http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/home	This new State of Wisconsin e-government portal site can access all areas of Wisconsin government.  The site contains a wealth of information on Wisconsin agencies, services and opportunities that can immediately improve your quality of life, such as education, health and human services, consumer protection and recreation.
Wisconsin State Legislature http://www.legis.state.wi.us	Includes information on the Senate, Assembly, Wisconsin law, committees, and how to find your representative.
State of Wisconsin Information Server http://badger.state.wi.us	Guides you to the many resources available from Wisconsin State agencies, departments, and other governmental branches.
Wisconsin Ethics Code and Lobbying Law http://ethics.state.wi.us	Provides information about the Wisconsin Ethics Code and Lobbying Law that requires public officials and lobbying interests to file statements of Economic interests annually.
Vote Smart http://www.vote-smart.org	Provides a variety of political information such as voting records, campaign finances, position statements, backgrounds, and evaluations. 1-888-vote-smart
League of Conservation Voters http://www.lcv.org	Keeps environmental voting records for members of Congress.
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign http://www.wisdc.org	Offers searchable databases to learn which interest groups and individuals contributed financially to the election of your elected representatives.
FedWorld http://www.fedworld.gov	Comprehensive central access point for searching, locating, ordering and acquiring government and business information

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