PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Big Wood Aquatic Insect Monitoring Program (BWAIMP) is a consistent monitoring program of macroinvertebrates as they pertain to water quality, as well as the distribution and abundance of key groups like Mayflies, Caddis, and Stoneflies. Even in rivers where trout, birds, and other wildlife remain abundant, insect communities often show declines in both abundance and biodiversity. 

 

This is more than an insect issue: it signals impaired watersheds, declining biodiversity, and, ultimately, a diminished river experience - from ecosystem health to fishing quality.
 

The communities of organisms that live at the bottom of our rivers, commonly referred to as macroinvertebrates, are not only crucial to the ecosystem as a basal food chain support but are also one of the clearest indicators of overall water quality and ecosystem health. Despite their importance, the Big Wood has very little long-term data on macroinvertebrate community assemblages present in the Big Wood. With the BWAIMP, we aim to change that. 
 

Establishing consistent monitoring of these macroinvertebrate communities will help PBW and river users have a better grasp on the current conditions and trends in the Big Wood River. This allows all parties involved to make better-informed restoration decisions throughout the watershed. Over time, this collaboration will create a long-term dataset that can be shared with agencies, researchers, and the public—ensuring that decisions about the Big Wood are informed by science and grounded in the river’s actual condition.
 

PROJECT GOALS & BENEFITS​

• Establish a baseline: Establish a baseline dataset of macroinvertebrate communities in the Big Wood River

• Track river health: Track water quality and ecosystem health using biological indicators that respond to change

• Collaborate with the experts: Partner with the Salmonfly Project to ensure consistent, science-backed monitoring

• Share data regionally: Contribute to a regional dataset, placing the Big Wood in a larger watershed context

• Share data publicly: Generate publicly available datasets (insect densities, water temperature, flows, sedimentation) and publish annual reports summarizing species trends, habitat characteristics, and conservation recommendations

•  Build trust through transparency: Share all data openly on our website and with partners to ensure transparency, credibility, and better decision-making for agencies, funders, and the community.

• Strengthen restoration science: Use results to guide restoration priorities, measure ecological progress over time, detect emerging threats early, and support targeted conservation strategies.

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PARTNERSHIPS:​

We’re proud to partner with the Salmonfly Project, an organization dedicated to conserving aquatic insects through research, monitoring, education, and science-based management. Aquatic insects— including their flagship species, the giant salmonfly — are increasingly threatened by pollution, dewatering, habitat loss, and rising water temperatures.
 

Together, we are building a program that collects, identifies, and analyzes species across multiple reaches of the river. The results will establish a critical baseline for water quality and ecosystem health, reveal where river conditions are improving or in decline, and provide insight that can guide restoration priorities.