{"id":4127,"date":"2017-10-26T13:15:48","date_gmt":"2017-10-26T18:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/for-wisconsin\/?post_type=campus_story&p=4127"},"modified":"2017-10-26T13:15:48","modified_gmt":"2017-10-26T18:15:48","slug":"students-in-uw-stout-lakes-program-present-research-in-menomonie-chetek","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/students-in-uw-stout-lakes-program-present-research-in-menomonie-chetek\/","title":{"rendered":"Students in UW-Stout LAKES program present research in Menomonie, Chetek"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
UW-Stout biology instructor Arthur Kneeland, left, works with LAKES REU students Elise Martinez, center, and Sarah Mack in a university lab. They are growing corn and other plants in sediment taken from a local waterway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Menomonie, Wis. \u2014 New studies on the Red Cedar River watershed, including Lake Menomin, Tainter Lake and the Chetek chain of lakes, were presented in forums in Menomonie and Chetek in early August.<\/p>\n

Thirteen university students from around the U.S. explained their summer research to the public at the Raw Deal restaurant in Menomonie and at Gilligan\u2019s restaurant in Chetek.<\/p>\n

The students are part of LAKES REU, a summer research experience for undergraduates at University of Wisconsin-Stout. The eight-week program studies issues related to blue-green algae in the watershed and how the compromised water quality affects quality of life in the region.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
LAKES REU students, from left Elizabeth Sosa, Stephanie Gonzalez and Jimmy Chin, identify organisms in the north branch of Wilson Creek near Knapp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Issues researched this summer are: public policies; citizen and community involvement; financial benefits to farmers of reducing run-off; reducing blue-green algal blooms in lakes; impact of soil erosion on water quality; how farmers can convert to conservation agriculture; and what CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) can do to improve water quality.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a significant expansion on the LAKES REU research from the previous three summers,\u201d said UW-Stout Associate Professor Nels Paulson, co-director with Associate Professor Chris Ferguson. \u201cThe student research will facilitate data-driven discussions on a range of issues from farming to community engagement to potential economic gains to practical technical solutions to this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

The students, their home universities, research focus and UW-Stout faculty advisers are:<\/p>\n