Reader TTS

Environment, Waters‘Opt Outside’ Day Brings Citizen Scientist Outdoors River Samples Collected In Milwaukee Test For Emerging Contaminants

2017DownloadRiverkeeper volunteer Kathy Beaver lowers a sampling bucket Friday, into the Menomonee River, near downtown Milwaukee. Chuck Quirmbach/WPR

While much of Wisconsin went shopping or to work on Friday, a smaller number of people went outdoors, as part of a national effort called “Opt Outside.”

REI, a national outdoors retailer is again promoting “Opt Outside,” as an alternative to Black Friday. Instead of recreating or clocking in, Shorewood resident Kathy Beaver and 13 other

volunteers made it a day to check local rivers for water pollution with environmental group Milwaukee Riverkeeper.

Kathy Beaver holds a sampling bottle containing water taken from the Menomonee River in downtown Milwaukee. Chuck Quirmbach/WPR

Stay connected to Wisconsin news — your way Get trustworthy reporting and unique local stories from WPR delivered directly to your inbox.

and should be left unchanged.

Shortly after raising a bucket of water from the Menomonee River near downtown Milwaukee for the pollution monitoring project, Beaver said the day was a perfect fit.

“My first response is, I would do anything but go shopping today. And I like to be outside in general, and I wanted to be able to contribute to the data collection,” Beaver said.

Beaver says the sampling is looking for so-called “emerging contaminants” like pharmaceuticals and personal care products. She says she doesn’t mind if companies eventually benefit from “Opt

Outside,” as long as they’re part of the solution to water pollution.

Beaver said she’d gladly take more samples.

“Sure, I would do it in the middle of winter if I could get the bucket through the ice … sure,” she said laughing.

Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2025, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

Related Stories Wisconsin celebrates National Mississippi River DayEven as French Island makes progress on safe drinking water, effects of PFAS contamination remainFarm groups sue Wisconsin

attorney general over prosecutor hired with outside fundsEvers proposes $145M plan to address PFAS in his next budget for Wisconsin‘Ed the Diver’ finds trash and treasure in Wisconsin’s

waterways