Wendy Lutzke Honored With Award From UW-Madison Extension & WI DNR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nancy Nabak, nancyn@woodlanddunes.org

Wendy Lutzke Honored With Award From UW-Madison Extension & WI DNR

5/8/20, Two Rivers: The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently announced the recipients of the 2020 Wisconsin Volunteer Stream Monitoring Awards. These awards recognize individuals and groups for their exemplary efforts in stream monitoring and water-quality related activities, support of stream stewardship, and a commitment to developing partnerships and sharing their skills and water quality data to benefit Wisconsin streams and rivers.

Woodland Dunes Environmental Educator & Butterfly Garden Coordinator, Wendy Lutzke, was presented with the Outstanding Educator Award. Wendy has established herself as a leader in local watershed issues, including her experience in monitoring streams. She is a founding member and monitoring coordinator for the Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed. She also coordinates monitoring for the Friends of the Twin Rivers watershed and personally samples on the West Twin River and Forget Me Not Creek. Wendy trains volunteers, including Woodland Dunes interns, educating them about water quality issues and protocols for sampling under the Water Action Volunteers baseline standards. Her efforts have touched hundreds of people in the Manitowoc-Two Rivers area, and her positive demeanor is an example to all.

Established in 1996, the Water Action Volunteers program supports more than 600 citizen water quality monitors across the state of Wisconsin. Extension Coordinator for the program, Peggy Compton, said, “I am humbled by the passion and dedication of the volunteers who collect and share data from their local streams, contributing to a greater understanding and protection of our water resources.”