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.
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We’re helping to fill the national monitoring gap in UK rivers
Invertebrates are collected from rivers in spring and autumn using the industry standard three-minute kick sweep sample. They are preserved and identified to species level, where possible, under a microscope.
Individual species have varying tolerances to certain pressures. The impact of organic pollution, nutrient enrichment, sediment, chemicals and flow stress on a river can be assessed with SmartRivers monitoring.
Invertebrate communities are a key component of a river’s food web. Loss of invertebrates indicates the loss of species such as salmon, otters and kingfishers from the ecosystem.
We work with groups in England, Scotland and Wales.
Click on the points on the map to find out the name of the host organisations and rivers sampled through SmartRivers.
122
the number of rivers SmartRivers has covered to date.
74
%reduction in water quality sampling by the Environment Agency between 2013 and 2021.
5,700+
hours of training undertaken by volunteers so far.
Here’s why the Yealm Estuary to Moor group signed up to be a SmartRivers hub
Will your local community join the fight to save our watery places? Here's how to sign up:
You will need an organisation to host the hub and unlock funding for the training.
We need around 10 volunteers to launch a hub and a hub lead/coordinator (this is commonly a local conservation group). Hubs are river based.
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.
A professional scientist will come and complete an initial benchmark on your chosen sample sites, in spring and autumn. This provides a scientific ‘baseline’ for your river.
Training is two full days and is usually run in conjunction with benchmarking. The course is certified by the Institute of Fisheries Management.
SmartRivers monitoring takes place twice a year (spring and autumn) and there are two pathways to choose from:
Sample and identify
Volunteers do all the sampling and analysis themselves. For hubs completing their own ID, we pick a sample at random each season for a quality control check – to provide volunteers with valuable feedback.
Sample and send
Volunteers collect the sample and post it to a professional lab for identification for a modest cost
Here's why we go the extra mile
The invertebrate records produced allow us to assess changes in invertebrate diversity and abundance, to highlight areas at risk.
As the foundation of the food web, changes to invertebrate communities alter the natural balance of river systems. This has implications for wildlife, like fish, that rely on invertebrates as a food source.
The species found at each site are input into our database, which generates a water quality ‘scorecard’ identifying the impact of organic pollution, nutrient enrichment, sediment, chemicals and flow stress.
This provides invaluable insight into the condition of the habitats wild fish populations depend on.
All our hubs have local objectives, but their hard work also contributes towards the national picture.
We break down the SmartRivers dataset annually, looking at national water quality and biodiversity trends across our SmartRivers sites.
SmartRivers data is all open-access.
View and upload data using the link below.
Email smartrivers@wildfish.org to request a login.
Log into the SmartRivers Resources hub for FAQ’s, support materials and data.
To set up a login, contact us at info@wildfish.org
Click here to login
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