River Stewardship Awards
Recipients of past Stream Monitoring Awards, with Wisconsin DNR and UW-Madison Extension staff.
Deadline: December 1, 2026
(see Nomination Steps below)
Do you know an outstanding person or group who dedicates substantial time and energy to protecting Wisconsin’s streams and rivers? We encourage you to nominate them for a prestigious River Stewardship Award!
Presented by the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership, the River Stewardship Awards recognize individuals and groups who protect and restore our streams and rivers through their exemplary professional or volunteer efforts by increasing public awareness and enthusiasm for streams and rivers, developing strong relationships and partnerships, and by making an impact through on-the-ground projects and activities.
The River Stewardship Awards were developed in 2026 by UW–Madison Extension, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin DNR to represent our growing vision and collective effort to celebrate all the incredible work that goes into ensuring the future of our state’s legacy of high-quality streams and rivers for the benefit of all.
Please review the Nomination Categories, Scoring (Award Criteria), and Nomination Steps sections below before submitting a nomination.
Nomination Categories
Outstanding River Steward Award
This award recognizes an individual, team, or group who has demonstrated exceptional volunteer service to a river, stream, or river system.
This award celebrates the many different ways that a nominee can have a positive impact on the protection and restoration of Wisconsin’s streams and rivers for the benefit of all. Volunteer service may include river clean up and monitoring efforts, habitat improvement, education and outreach activities, or organizing people in the community in support of healthy rivers and streams. Volunteer service may be at the local, regional, or statewide level.
Outstanding River Professional Award
This award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding contributions to the restoration or protection of a river, stream, or river system in their paid professional role. Professional service may be at the local, regional, or statewide level.
Since 2002, the Water Action Volunteers program’s Wisconsin Stream Monitoring Awards have recognized individuals and groups for their exemplary efforts in volunteer stream monitoring and related activities. Similarly, the River Alliance of Wisconsin’s River Champion Award (discontinued in 2019) recognized individuals for their sustained, exemplary efforts to protect Wisconsin’s waters and make a lasting impact.
In 2026, UW–Madison Extension, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin DNR developed new shared River Stewardship Awards to be presented annually by the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership. The goal is to recognize the diverse work of individuals and groups across Wisconsin who are dedicated to stewarding our streams and rivers through strong partnerships and professional and volunteer work.
Please note: the award selection committee may move a nomination to a more appropriate award category based on these eligibility requirements.
Outstanding River Steward Award
- Volunteer service must primarily be done in Wisconsin.
- The nomination can celebrate an individual, team, or group of people who freely contribute their time in this work. The award is intended to celebrate uncompensated volunteer service.
- Nominees do not have to be affiliated with an organized group.
Outstanding River Professional Award
- Professional work must be done primarily in Wisconsin.
- Nominations must be specific to one person.
- Nominations should focus on an individual’s impact through their paid professional work.
The award selection committee will score each nomination using the criteria below. The scores help guide the committee’s decision-making process. A nominee doesn’t need to score high on all four criteria to be considered for the award. Nominations should provide details and evidence to support any relevant criteria — the selection committee will take the full nomination into consideration.
Outstanding River Steward Award
- Developing relationships and partnerships to support stream and river work
- Raising public awareness/enthusiasm for rivers and streams
- Completing projects and activities leading to the protection/restoration of rivers and streams
- A record of river/stream stewardship, outreach, or education in their community
Outstanding River Professional Award
- Organizing and engaging diverse stakeholders
- Raising public awareness and enthusiasm for rivers and streams
- Completing projects and activities leading to the protection or restoration of rivers and streams
- Quality of service and professionalism
*All materials must be assembled and submitted by December 1, 2026 for your nomination to be considered.
Step 1: Download and complete the nomination application (Word document)
Outstanding River Steward Award Application
Outstanding River Professional Award Application
Step 2 (required): Collect two letters of support
Step 3 (optional): Collect up to three additional pieces of supporting information
- Focus on quality over quantity — provide the most compelling pieces that demonstrate the nominee’s impact.
- Materials can be provided as documents or links.
- Examples of supporting information include:
- Published stories about the nominee or their work
- Materials created by the nominee
- Reports showing impact of the nominee’s work
Step 4: Email the nomination application, letter of support, and supporting documents to wav@extension.wisc.edu.
Nominations are reviewed in December by a committee of UW–Madison Extension, Wisconsin DNR, and River Alliance of Wisconsin staff. Award recipients and their nominators are notified in January. Our 2027 award recipients will be recognized at the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention in Stevens Point on Thursday, April 15, 2027.
Questions? Email UW–Madison Extension staff at wav@extension.wisc.edu.
Past Award Recipients: River Stewardship Awards – Water Action Volunteers