Urban Riverfly

Riverfly Monitoring Initiative survey data for sites in the UK and Ireland includes total scores and individual group scores for each survey date. Data are collected by trained volunteers to a nationally recognised standard and compared to a trigger level. If scores fall below that trigger level, this is reported to the environmental regulator for investigation. The Urban Riverfly scheme expands the standard approach by using an extended list of aquatic invertebrates. Adding six additional groups to the original eight provides a more detailed understanding of environmental change, particularly in urban rivers where riverfly numbers are often lower. Volunteers upload their survey data to the Cartographer platform, where it is verified by local coordinators. Verified data is automatically pulled into this ArcGIS Online feature layer daily. Explore the full dataset and graphs at: https://riverflydata.org/ Riverflies are aquatic invertebrates that spend most of their life cycle in rivers, streams, ponds, or lakes. They play a vital role in freshwater ecosystems and the aquatic food chain. RMI focuses on three key groups: • Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) • Caddisflies / Sedges (Trichoptera) • Stoneflies (Plecoptera) Their limited mobility, relatively long life cycles, year-round presence, and sensitivity to environmental change make them excellent indicators of water quality, pollution, siltation, and low flows. Visit Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (RMI) to learn how citizen scientists help protect river health by monitoring riverfly populations.