Hello Community Scientists!

You can help protect the Spokane River by collecting crayfish for analysis! We are partnering with the University of Idaho to monitor crayfish for mercury in the Spokane River and we need your help to catch crayfish in the Spokane River.

Sign up below to join us!

This just in! Data collected from our crayfish study was used in a recent publication

Click the photo to read the article! Thank you to all the Community Scientists who helped provide these valuable data.

Mercury is pervasive in our environment and the Spokane River, along with other pollutants such as PCBs. We've teamed up with scientists from the University of Idaho Water Resources Research Institute to monitor crayfish for mercury. These data will be contributed to studies throughout the Columbia Basin and used to assess crayfish and river health.

If you are interested in protecting the Spokane River through this research, join us at the river for a day of learning and crayfish catching activities:

  • University presentation about local crayfish species.

  • Sampling techniques including net and cage catching.

  • Crayfish identification, species, measurements, sexing, and habitat.

  • Information about mercury and other pollutant dangers in the Spokane River.

Family friendly events with activities for a range of skill and agility.

We will provide all sampling equipment.

Wear shoes and clothing that can get wet.

Bring personal safety equipment, pfds (life jackets), to your comfort level.

Remember to pack sunscreen, water, and snacks.

All crayfish that are collected will be terminated and tested for mercury levels. The results of this study will be used to determine the health of our river and of the crayfish living in the river. Please consider your comfortability with this method before signing up.




Sign up for Crayfish Monitoring Events

Check out the results from 2022 below! Spokane River Crayfish have the lowest mercury concentrations in the region, possibly due to Lake Coeur d’Alene functioning as an upstream sink to catch any mercury.

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