Community Science | National Great Rivers Research and Education Center

Our community science programming at National Great Rivers provides opportunities for people across Illinois to participate in the evaluation and protection of their local freshwater resources. Engaging community members directly in the scientific process helps our researchers efficiently collect extensive data from a larger geographic area while deepening our volunteers' knowledge of the freshwater ecosystems in their communities. National Great Rivers is home to several highly successful community science programs and has plans to launch additional programs that encourage participatory science in the coming years.

Frog Watch

Frog Watch USA is a national long-term frog and toad community science program and National Great Rivers is organizing a satellite chapter for the larger STL Frog Watch Chapter. We will provide monitoring opportunities for frogs and toads in the STL region on the Illinois side of the river, a place where Frog Watch currently does not have representation. Volunteering for our chapter of Frog Watch is a great way for the public to get involved in helping frogs and contributing to frog projects in our research programs.

Mussel Monitoring

The State of Illinois is home to almost 300 species of freshwater mussels, 80 of those species are native to Illinois. Mussel shells have been prized by humans for a variety of uses including tools and ornaments made by American Indians and consumption of the soft tissue for food. Mussels are very sensitive to their environments and have experienced a significant decline since the early 1900’s due to heavier sediment loads, pollution and competition from invasive species like the zebra mussel. Learn more about volunteering to help monitor mussels in your community!

Riverwatch

The National Great Rivers Illinois RiverWatch program is the only statewide biological monitoring program that provides volunteers a hands-on opportunity to become stewards of their local waterways by monitoring stream habitat and aquatic invertebrate populations. The program was originally established in 1995 and funded by the IDNR, National Great Rivers became the steward and funder of the program in 2005. RiverWatch has training levels that vary from RiverWatch Pro to RiverWatch for the Classroom.

Wetland Watch

Wetland Watch is a new community science program at National Great Rivers. Wetlands are one of the most productive and economically important ecosystems globally. They are especially important in the Mississippi River basin due to their ability to absorb flood waters, slow the velocity of flood water, and filter pollutants before water enters large rivers. Wetlands are a key focus for scientists at National Great Rivers, spanning multiple taxonomic groups and habitat types. Volunteers with Wetland Watch will help our scientists monitor and study wetlands throughout the State of Illinois. Stay Tuned!!

Winter Chloride Watch

Chloride is a main component in road salt and is increasingly impacting our freshwater resources in the State of Illinois with over 475 stream miles listed as “impaired” due to chloride levels. Elevated levels of chloride are toxic to the organisms that live in freshwater. Monitoring chloride levels is an easy way to help the scientists at National Great Rivers study how road salts impact ecological communities, and it is also a way to help municipalities modify their practices to reduce the impact of road salt, while also keeping our roads safe to drive in inclement weather.