Scott Ladd Memorial Research Internship
Overview and Objectives
The Harry and Laura Nohr Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville established a unique partnership to examine stream restoration within Southwestern Wisconsin. Undergraduate students are supported through an endowed internship and mentored by a university faculty member. This partnership addresses the inability of resource agencies and conservation organizations to dedicate sufficient resources to monitor and evaluate restoration efforts. The partnership also provides a template to effectively address the current demand on undergraduates to acquire practical experience in addition to a strong academic foundation.
The Interns
- This internship implements a unique Primary Intern and trainee approach to maintain continuity in the quality of work over time.
- Each year, a junior/senior is hired as the Primary Intern, and a freshman/sophomore is hired as a part-time technician.
- The Primary Intern trains the assistant technician, directs field sampling, and is responsible for analyzing and presenting the results for that year.
- The technician primarily assists with field work, but then becomes the Primary Intern the following year.
Research
- The internship follows a 3-year research plan identifying target streams for the Nohr Chapter. The research plan focuses on sites of past or future restoration activities and is updated annually.
- At each study site, interns survey stream/riparian habitat, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and fish following academic research standards (and WI DNR protocols when appropriate).
- The Blue River will serve as the “flagship” research area in that it will be surveyed and monitored more frequently than other sites. The Blue River has an extensive collection of data prior to restoration activities, and Trout Unlimited has invested a great deal of resources on stream restoration.
- Each year, a summary presentation and full written report is provided to the Nohr Chapter by the internship.
Recent Research (2010)
As for the 2010 research, the objective was:
Examine the fish populations, macroinvertebrate communities, in-stream habitat, and riparian vegetation along the Harker and Lee Creeks. Three different sections of the stream were restored at different times over the past 10 years. This study looked at each of the three sections to determine and document if there were any differences among them given the restoration that has occurred.
- Assessment of Lee Creek and Harker-Lee Creek Restoration 2010 Report
- A Sculpin Mystery: Something ‘Fishy’ is Going on Here… 2010 Poster
- Scott Ladd Memorial Research Internship 2011 Presentation
Past Research
- Impacts of Restoration on a Southwestern Wisconsin River 2004 Report
- Scott Ladd Memorial Research Internship 2004 Presentation
- McPherson Branch and the Upper Blue River 2005 Report
- Scott Ladd Memorial Research Internship 2005 Presentation
- The Blue River and Bronson Creek (2009 Report)
- Scott Ladd Memorial Research Internship 2009 Presentation
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