SmartRivers | Scientifically Robust Citizen Science

Wildfish / Projects / SmartRivers

Science you can trust, powered by people who care

Want to establish professional-grade monitoring on your river?

Get in touch

SmartRivers is our scientifically robust citizen science toolkit. It empowers local communities to collect professional-grade data and take action to protect wild fish and their habitats.

We offer comprehensive training and support for local organisations to conduct professionally comparable ecological monitoring with their volunteer network.

Our approach to monitoring generates data that matches the standards used by regulatory bodies – bridging critical gaps in river monitoring caused by ongoing resource constraints.

“My work for SmartRivers is incredibly rewarding. I see the huge enthusiasm for the training from people who really care about the health of rivers.”

Roger Owen
SmartRivers trainer and former Head of Ecology at SEPA

2025 Progress Report

In 2024, our dedicated volunteers sampled 243 river sites across the UK, stepping up in the face of regulator monitoring cuts. Follow the link below to learn more about how SmartRivers is empowering communities with robust science and the significant impact it brings to those striving to protect their rivers.

Learn more

Why get involved?

Make history

Establish high-quality historical benchmarks so future generations won’t have to guess what once lived in our rivers.

Make plans

Plan with confidence by gathering detailed pre and post monitoring data for any interventions in or around rivers.

Make waves

Present your data to local stakeholders and regulators to drive action with WildFish by your side.

Key Stats

125

the number of rivers SmartRivers has covered to date.

74

%

reduction in water quality sampling by the Environment Agency between 2013 and 2021.

6,000+

hours of training undertaken by volunteers so far.

Ready to sign up your group?

Start by selecting your monitoring tools.

Invertebrate fingerprinting

SmartRivers invertebrate fingerprinting entails the collection of invertebrate samples in spring and autumn annually.

The samples are collected using the industry standard methodology (three minute kick- sweep and one minute hand search method). Each sample is preserved and analysed to species-level (wherever possible) away from the riverbank.

This monitoring allows changes in invertebrate diversity and abundance to be assessed, highlighting trends and areas at risk. Water quality ‘scorecards’ are also generated, grading the impact of five common water quality stress types.

Further information on the logistics of this can be found here.

Others coming soon!

We're testing other professional monitoring types to bring you more 'smart' monitoring options.

How to sign up

We will guide you through these steps and provide advice.

1. Establish a group and recruit volunteers

You will need an organisation to host the group and unlock funding for the training.

We need around 10 volunteers to launch a group and a group lead/coordinator (this is commonly a local conservation group).

2. Register your sites

For your river you will need to choose 5 sample sites. It is helpful to think about what are you keen to investigate? For example sites above and below restoration projects or potential polluting discharges.

The group lead submits these to us on a registration form.

3. Complete your training

Invertebrate fingerprinting training is two full days. The course is certified by the Institute of Fisheries Management.

4. Start sampling!

SmartRivers invertebrate fingerprinting takes place twice a year (spring and autumn) and there are two pathways to choose from:

Volunteer ID

Volunteers do all the sampling and analysis themselves.

We pick a sample at random each season for a quality control check – to provide volunteers with valuable feedback.

Hybrid (Sample and send)

Volunteers collect the sample and post it to a professional lab for identification for a modest cost

These pathways are flexible and a combination of both is possible.

Further detail on setting up and maintaining a SmartRivers group can be found here

Want to see where we're active?

Click on the points on the map to find out the name of the host organisations and rivers monitored through SmartRivers.

If you are an individual looking to join one of these groups drop us a line and we can put you in contact with the group lead.