Water Research Begins at Crossroads at Big Creek

This week the Collins Learning Center at Crossroads at Big Creek undergoes its annual metamorphosis, changing from an educational center to a research facility.

For more than a decade, Crossroads has hosted researchers from Environmental Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) at UW-Oshkosh, who, using a strict protocol, have been collecting water samples throughout each summer from 34 public beaches.

For a second year, Healthy Water Door County, a fund of the Door County Community Foundation, awarded a grant to ERIC to conduct a countywide well monitoring program during the weekend of June 3 & 4 and June 10 & 11. On Fridays, the hours are 4 – 7 pm and 9 am – noon on Saturdays. The lower level of the Collins Learning Center will be one of the pick/drop off locations.

Thanks to Healthy Water Door County, this program is free to virtually any Door County property owner or resident who depends on a private well.

Over both weekends, while supplies last, residents will be able to pick up testing kits and ask questions of the experts on hand from UW-Oshkosh. Water samples may then be brought back to the pick-up sites that same day, the next day, or the following week for analysis.

Also on June 4, 10 – 11:30 am, WaterFEST for Kids will be held with hand-on activities pertaining to water. This fest is appropriate for K-5 children. Participating kids will receive a free t-shirt (size youth L only). The fest will be held in the entry level of the Collins Learning Center.

On June 9 at 6 pm, the researchers will offer a community outreach program in the Collins Learning Center to explain groundwater issues and answer questions relating to water quality and private wells.

The Collins Learning Center, located at 2041 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay, is open 2 – 4:30 pm daily and during scheduled events. During the construction, to reach the center, take the highway detour to County T (Alabama Street) cross the highway to Big Creek Road and turn right. Proceed to Lily Bay Road and turn right. Lily Bay Road will merge with Michigan and the Crossroads entrance will be on your left.