RIVER WATCH 

This crucial program is campus driven by student and community volunteers as well as support from the Police Department.  Operation: River Watch began in 2006. Sigma Tau Gamma at UW-La Crosse took over the coordination of Operation: River Watch in 2007, although student volunteers come from all three campuses in La Crosse.  “I am a big fan of Operation: River Watch. Over the years, there have been other examples of wonderful student-led projects. But they rarely carry on to the next ‘generation’ of students, states Lee Rasch, President of Western Technical College. “It is even more unique to have three institutions of higher education collaborate on a multi-generation project.”

 

Operation: River Watch consists of four volunteers patrolling the river each Thursday through Sunday from 11p.m. to 3a.m. and has been credited with preventing several drownings. Volunteers typically intercept 700 or more people in Riverside Park during an academic year, as reported in a 2015 study.

 

“We are honored for this opportunity to have a partnership with the Rotary Club of La Crosse”, said Daniel Potter, Director Operation River Watch. “In order to keep our city safe year round, we are in need of constant and effective patrolling of the Mississippi River.”   As Summer approaches, it becomes more difficult to recruit volunteers for work that is truly making a difference and saving lives.  If you would like to volunteer to participate in Operation: River Watch, please contact Danny Potter at potter.daniel@uwlax.edu.