The Big River Watch has returned today, as members of the public are once again invited to participate in the citizen science survey dedicated to monitoring the health of rivers across the UK and Ireland.
So far The Big River Watch has seen nearly 12,000 people take part since the inaugural event in September 2023.
The upcoming survey will run from 25th April to 1st May, encouraging people to observe their local rivers using a free app. The results will be made available through an interactive dashboard in near-real time, not only providing useful data for The Rivers Trust, but to individuals and communities seeking to advocate for and take action to improve river health at a time where environmental monitoring is limited.
Michelle Walker, Technical Director at The Rivers Trust, said:
“Environmental monitoring across our rivers is still far too limited, which is why getting out and taking part in The Big River Watch is so important – each survey gives us a snapshot of what might be happening along that river. It can help us identify where there might be pollution hotspots or where wildlife is thriving.
“When we bring it all together, it helps us build a fuller picture of river health – we want to make this the UK and Ireland’s biggest-ever citizen science survey of river health and create the change needed to restore our precious rivers. And it’s not just good for rivers, many Big River Watchers report feeling calm and relaxed when taking part, Big River Watch is a lovely opportunity to take 15 minutes and simply enjoy being by the water’s edge wherever you are.”
The Big River Watch is open to all, with no experience or training in citizen science required. All people need to do is download the free Big River Watch app, spend 15 minutes by their local river and answer questions as prompted. The organisation wants to build a complete picture of river health, and topics covered include the plants and wildlife people can see, as well as visible signs of pollution or observations on flow levels.
Emma Brisdion, Communications & Campaigns Manager at The Rivers Trust, said:
“In the past few years, we’ve seen public interest in – and concern about – our river health skyrocket, as awareness has grown about the dire state our rivers are in. Naturally, communities want to see action taken for these vital spaces and want more ways to get involved themselves. The Big River Watch offers one such opportunity.
“The survey has been designed to gather valuable data on river health, and also to be a simple, easy (and mindful, even!) thing to do. I hope that river-loving communities, from paddlers and anglers to walkers and wildlife watchers, will grasp this opportunity with both hands, and help us better understand the health of our blue spaces – something that’s essential for making informed decisions on how best to restore them.”
