Illinois RiverWatch Network

The RiverWatch program trains volunteers to collect and identify macroinvertebrates, which are small animals without a backbone.  Macroinvertebrates are excellent indicators of water quality because they vary in their sensitivity to pollution in the water, so which species are present and how abundant they are tells us a lot about the condition of the water they live in.

The Illinois RiverWatch program was established by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in 1995 with the goals of providing consistent, high-quality data for use by scientists, to educate and inform community members about the ecology and importance of freshwater resources in Illinois and to provide an opportunity for anyone to become involved in the stewardship of Illinois’ freshwater.  After budget cuts in 2004 left the program without support, National Great Rivers became the steward and funder of the program in 2006, which continues today.

The community scientists who volunteer in the RiverWatch program are known as “RiverWatchers.” These volunteers have completed training critical to the consistent, scientifically rigorous collection of quality data, which now covers multiple years at multiple locations. These long-term datasets can help land managers make informed decisions on ecosystem restoration, water resource protection and invasive species control.  By monitoring a local stream, volunteers of all ages and backgrounds also increase their understanding and appreciation of our freshwater streams and rivers in Illinois. Our volunteers extend and apply that knowledge, serving as advocates for the protection of our freshwater resources.  

As RiverWatch has grown, National Great Rivers continues to support its original mission while looking ahead to bring RiverWatch to additional groups and communities who are interested in monitoring at a level that does not require the intensive training and to also provide RiverWatch for middle school, high school and undergraduate students and their teachers/professors.