Environmental Monitoring
We can determine how healthy the river is by collecting, identifying, and counting macroinvertebrate organisms in the stream.
Benthic macroinvertebrates have different levels of sensitivity to pollution. Some can live only in water with little or no pollution, while others can exist with surprising levels of pollution. Every spring and fall, FRWC engages volunteers to monitor 34 different sites in and around Genesee and Lapeer counties. We track and store this information and share it with local and state agencies.
Winter Stonefly Hunt
Environmental monitoring happens year round, as certain stoneflies emerge in the winter to mate. This is the best time to find the bio-indicators. They don't fly, rather they crawl along surfaces and attract mates by drumming their abdomens on the surface of rocks.
Look for more information on our Winter Stonefly Hunt each winter.
Vernal Pool Patrol
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. By monitoring these wetlands, we can determine the overall health of our watershed - but we can't do it without your help.
Check back each spring for more details on our Vernal Pool Patrols.
Flint River GREEN
Youth work throughout the watershed to collect chemical and physical data from local streams each spring and fall.
Learn more about how to get youth involved in this program here:
