Learning on the Lakefront

As the subject of this week's blog post is metacognition, it seems only right to mention that these first two weeks have been filled to the brim with learning experiences--and not all academic. From finding my way around Menomonie, to locating the cheapest can of beans, to navigating the bar scene; from crashing my bike, to celebrating birthdays, to learning more about one another and the watershed we're all studying, this experience has been full of new facts and figures.

But as we all become more familiar with our surroundings, the bulk of our attention will turn towards our projects, and learning more about the dynamics at play in the system we're exploring. Fingers crossed, Lucia and I will begin interviewing this week in an attempt to learn more about the management practices of both lakefront property owners and upland farmers. 

As far as lakefront property owners go, we're hoping to gain insight that can be split into three categories: management and maintenance practices, information sources, and attitudes toward restoration. By asking lakefront owners about their habits in terms of maintaining their property, we can learn more about trends in land use that impact the area adjacent to the lake, whether they be constructive or destructive. The spread of information, whether accurate or otherwise, can be spread by both formal and informal networks. By asking property owners where, if at all, they get their information pertaining to their lakefront or the lake, we can learn more about how this type of information is disseminated in this area. Lastly, as several of our colleagues are investigating the possibility of wild rice restoration, and wetland restoration more generally is a phosphorus mitigation strategy, by asking our interviewees how they feel about restoration near their own properties, as well as in the watershed more broadly, we can hopefully gauge the receptivity of the community to possible restoration efforts.  

So hopefully with this post I've proven that in the past few weeks I've learned more than how to balance my research responsibilities while keeping up with my favorite teams as they battle for the World Cup. And that as a group, we've done our fair share of both work and play. Thanks for reading, enjoy the picture I snapped while taking a break from rain-gardening.