Individuals and communities in the north woods depend on water, forests and natural resources for their livelihoods, recreational enjoyment, and cultural and spiritual fulfillment. The Center for Rural Communities engages in projects that capture attitudes, perceptions and behaviors related to the natural environment, and that explore how policies and changes in the environment affect quality of life, attachment to place, and well-being.
This guide brings together findings from global climate change assessments, national human health reports, regional-and state-level climate change impacts, and community input collected through a survey of Chequamegon Bay Area households. The aim is to share findings and make recommendations that are as specific to the region as possible. This work supports cooperation on climate change adaptation across planning topics, organizations, and jurisdictions. Funded by Wisconsin Sea Grant.
In partnership with the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation, the results of this project have informed the development of an effective lake management plan based on understanding how different stakeholders interact with and affect lake ecosystems in northern Wisconsin. The project is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The CRC conducted a telephone public opinion poll on drinking water between May and June of 2016 across a random sample of households in Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, and Iron counties in Wisconsin. The poll included questions about responsibilities of the public sector in relation to drinking water, private ownership of water resources, and potential concerns about local water infrastructure. Read the full report and appendix.
This study measures drivers of risky and non-risky swimming behavior at Maslowski beach to inform effective warning systems to maximize public health and minimize beach users’ contact with potentially polluted waters. This study is funded by a Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) award to the City of Ashland Parks and Recreation Department. Read the full report.
