New citizen science app launched to help Laois communities monitor rivers
Representatives from the River Basin Management Service alongside volunteers from community groups in attendance at the launch event of the new citizen science guidance and digital CSSI app. The CSSI Champions workshop took place in the Bernal Institute, University of Limerick
IN association with this year’s world rivers days, a new science-based app has been launched to help communities monitor Laois’ rivers.
Celebrated on Sunday 27 September, world rivers day aimed to inspire people of all ages to become more involved in understanding, protecting and restoring Ireland’s rivers and streams.
The new A Beginner’s Guide to Water Quality Monitoring: The Citizen Science Stream Index (CSSI) will also make it easier for communities to learn how to monitor their local waterways using tiny aquatic animals, scientifically known as macroinvertebrates, as indicators of water quality.
Alongside the guidance, the River Basin Management Service has developed the new CSSI app, a digital tool designed to help citizen scientists capture, store and share their findings easily.
Explaining the purpose behind the app, Anthony Coleman, director of services at the River Basin Management Service, said that it was to enable citizens to help bridge the information gap over smaller streams and rivers which hadn’t, and were unlikely to, receive as much attention as their peers.
He said: “Citizen science can help bridge this information gap, providing valuable local observations to complement the work of professional scientists.” Small streams play a vital role in Ireland’s freshwater environment, accounting for over 75% of Irish rivers. They provide important habitats for aquatic life, including Atlantic salmon and brown trout, and connect to larger rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
The CSSI focuses on six relatively common aquatic invertebrate groups that can be identified with a minimum of training. They are divided into ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys.’ The three ‘good guys’ associated with healthier, cleaner water are green caddisflies, flattened mayflies and stoneflies, while the three ‘bad guys’ â leeches, water louse and snails â are more tolerant of pollution.
By looking at which groups are present in a stream, citizen scientists can build a basic picture of its biological water quality. Repeated surveys can help reveal changes over time and provide useful information to support local action to improve water quality.
All survey results should be submitted to the River Basin Management Service. When verified, this data will be shared with the National Biodiversity Data Centre and used by the River Basin Management Service to inform their catchment assessment process.
If you or your community group is interested in getting involved, contact local community water officer Ann Phelan at aphelan@riverbasin.ie, who can provide further advice, support and training opportunities.
