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Student researchers from �������� and other UW campuses will showcase their research at Wisconsin ��������. Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday, April 2, during .

The Gilbert Creek sub watershed contains 23.8 miles of classified trout water, including Gilbert Creek Fishery and Wildlife Area, a 241-acre property approximately 7 miles west of Menomonie. Restoration of the creek began in the mid-2000s and continues in various sections.

“Our research could impact how the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources carries out stream restorations and adds to the knowledge they have on how stream restorations impact stream ecology,” Buss said.

Macroinvertebrates are an integral part of stream systems. They are a critical food source for fish and are important in processing organic matter, he added. 

A few of the most common macroinvertebrates the group found in their samplings were caddisfly larvae, mayfly larvae and scuds.

“We found that macroinvertebrate communities across stream restoration ages were more similar than we expected, but our research suggests that there may be age-related trends,” Buss said. “Newly restored sites may initially have a very different macroinvertebrate community composition that quickly shifts towards the assemblages seen in older restorations. Eventually, all restoration sites seem to settle on similar communities.”

Reed canary grass is a prevalent and aggressive invasive species that is best controlled by fire and herbicide. Having a native competitor, like native sedge, could help land managers and restorations use a biological control in managing reed canary, Welch said.

Native grasses and sedges were planted to provide cover and nesting habitat for wildlife, and the plants’ root systems help to reduce bank erosion and filter out pollutants in the stream.

Samples were collected from three plots at zero, 3 and 6 meters from the bank, 50 meters apart. Reaches were defined by the year they were restored, Welch said. 

“The oldest restorations had the greatest percent cover of the hairy-fruit sedge, compared to newer restorations in the Gilbert Creek. There was a trend for percent cover of hairy-fruit sedge and increasing distance from the bank,” he added. “Reed canary grass had an opposite trend. However, at zero meters, where reed canary grass had highest abundance, there was a significant negative trend with increasing percent cover of hairy-fruit sedge.”

Welch likes to see these projects progress as time goes on. “More information on the outcomes of these stream restorations provides better tools on what does and doesn’t work in achieving functioning native communities,” he said.

Buss and Welch will graduate in May. Buss plans to work in water quality monitoring or a water-related field, while Welch will work for a restoration company in southern Wisconsin. They each plan to apply to graduate school.

Students across degree fields presenting

Researchers at RITR are nominated by faculty, staff and a student committee. Seven other �������� students, including a third Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin scholar, will discuss their research with attendees:

• Corey Brisiel, applied social science, of Eau Claire: Off-Campus Housing in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Tina Lee and Courtney Juelich.
• Luke Denney, computer science, of Byron, Minnesota: Kintsugi 3D Builder: User Experience Design and Implementation. Michael Tetzlaff.
• Bryanna Hoffman, biochemistry and molecular biology, of Eau Claire: Changes in the Chemical Properties of Surface Waters in Dunn County. Ana Magdalena Vande Linde.
• Emmett Jaakkola, applied mathematics and computer science, of Apple Valley, Minnesota: Electric Circuit Simulation with Explicit Simulation of Mobile Charges. Daniel Sinkovits.
• Bria Moore, psychology, of Wisconsin Rapids: Elderly Americans: Maintaining Independence and Well-Being. Molly Welch-Deal and Sarah Wynn.
• Lindsey Redepenning, applied mathematics and computer science, FCW scholar, of Elk River, Minnesota: Precision Agriculture: Measuring Crop Per Drop Using the Internet of Things, Machine Learning, and Mathematical Modeling. Keith Wojciechowski.
• Cassie Sciarra, applied social science, of St. Paul: Social Determinants of Substance Use Disorders and Addiction Treatment: Evidence from Arbor Place Professionals. Lee and Juelich.

�������� leadership attending are Chancellor Katherine Frank, Provost Glendalí Rodríguez and Head of Staff Kristi Krimpelbein.

In addition, 12 �������� students will present at the  from Monday, April 7, to Wednesday, April 9, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. More than 4,000 undergraduates from all disciplines from across the country will attend.