Wild and Scenic Rivers
Hard to believe I’m approaching my 10 year anniversary as a member of Adventure Scientist. Over that decade I’ve been lucky enough to participate in a variety of citizen science projects that have taken me from remote Alaskan islands to the top of volcanos. Our latest project with them was the Wild and Scenic Rivers project.
I wrote an article about the details of the project here. If you think this might be something you’d be interested in then you’ll also find some links on how to apply.
Our Experience
We volunteered for the Suiattle River which is located in the North Cascades of Washington state. We were able to make multiple collection trips to the river in a variety of weather; from sunny days to fog and rain.
Of course, the hardest trip was the first trip as we had to make multiple attempts to find a suitable collection site. The site needed to meet the requirements for a successful collection process and be safe at the same time. With the volume and speed at which the Suiattle runs that was a bit of a big order to fill. But once we found our site and marked it on our GPS it was routine from that point on.
The routine is to get yourself settled in an area where the flow is running. Then we fill rinse and fill three sample bottles with river water. These we pack away in a cooler filled with ice packs and which will be shipped overnight freight to a lab in Colorado.
Then using two separate probes we measure various data points of the river such as acidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen levels etc. All of this gets entered into an application on our phone and upload to the cloud once we get back to an area with cell coverage. The last piece is to take photos of the banks and vegetation and describe the area.
I’m happy to report that our efforts, along with the rest of the teams of volunteers, paid off with over 570 completed reports from 91 rivers. Almost five times the number from the previous year.
Support
Our mission is a labor of love, but it does come with overhead. If you’d like to support our efforts we’d certainly appreciate it. Currently, we’re actively participating in the following field research:
- COASST Beached Bird Surveys
- Wild and Scenic River Project
Thank you.
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Our efforts, along with the rest of the teams of volunteers, paid off with over 570 completed reports from 91 rivers
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One of the best things about volunteering for citizen-science projects is the opportunity to spend time in some truly breathtaking places. And with fall just around the corner, it's an especially beautiful time to be outdoors. There's nothing quite like watching the leaves change colors and feeling that fresh autumn breeze on your face. It's a great way to connect with nature and make a difference at the same time.
Our only tide window to conduct this month’s #COASST bird survey was just before sunset. Not only did we have the beach to ourselves, but we were rewarded with this view when we rounded the point. Had to pause the survey and just enjoy the view and tranquility.
We're spending the weekend exploring the 'Great Bend' of Hood Canal. We found a nice private campground to base out of. This is just one of the many views to be found on North Shore Drive.
Taking a brief pause to appreciate the beautiful sunset on the Long Beach Peninsula.
I recently went hiking in the Olympic Peninsula forests and stumbled upon this beautiful waterfall. It was such a serene and peaceful spot, and I felt so lucky to have found it. There are so many hidden gems to discover when exploring the great outdoors!
With the hot weather we've endured, I'm looking forward to Fall and the dramatic weather. Here's a sunset over North Head Lighthouse.
After a short hike along Murhut Creek, which originates from a narrow basin on the south side of the lower Duckabush River valley, we arrived at the lower half of Murhut Falls. The falls consist of two sections with a combined height of 153 feet, although only the lower half was visible from our vantage point.
I haven't had the opportunity to take a stroll around Waughop Lake lately, yet I couldn't help but notice the abundant greenery that now adorns the trails.
During our recent camping trip on the Washington coast with friends, we took a bike ride to Cape Disappointment State Park. We came across the Northhead Lighthouse, but unfortunately, it was closed at the time due to an ongoing cliff rescue operation.
Spent an incredible day immersed in nature's wonders with my adventurous partner, Theresa! 🌿🌈 We hiked along the majestic Chehalis River, mesmerized by its crystal-clear waters and lush surroundings. And then, we stumbled upon the magnificent Rainbow Falls waterfall, its cascading waters painting the landscape with vibrant colors! 🏞️💦 Moments like these remind us of the pure magic that awaits when we embrace the great outdoors.
Looking forward to this sunny weekend getaway at Rainbow Falls State Park Exploring the stunning beauty of nature and immersing ourselves in the serenity of the namesake waterfall.
On a sunny day at the beach, the four of us enjoyed riding our bikes along the shoreline, feeling the sun's warmth on our skin. We laughed and chatted as we pedaled, the refreshing sea breeze accompanying us. Eventually, we reached the breathtaking Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, where we paused to take in the stunning view of the sparkling ocean and rugged cliffs. It was a perfect moment of friendship and natural beauty.
I had to stay close to home this weekend, but the Lakewood Summerfest was fun. Hot air balloons lit the venue.
We recently adopted a new #COASST beach for our beaches bird surveys. You can find more articles and photographs in the link above. #YourShotPhotographer #conquernorthwest #nextstop24traveler
A trail leading through the coastal forest on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Read the latest article about our new #COASST beach. Link in the description.
Looking at the turnaround point to our new survey beach, which lies just to the west of Murdock Beach.
What’s Next
The project wrapped up in September with us shipping our probes back to headquarters to be recalibrated for the next round.
However, we’ve been asked to participate in a winter collection effort which I’m happy to say we accepted eagerly. I’m not sure what to expect from the North Cascades in winter, but we’ll jump in with both feet and see what Mother Nature brings. Stay tuned for more updates.
