Water is the lifeblood of our environment and our communities, and the Arkansas River is no exception. Monitoring the river’s health is crucial for understanding changes over time, especially as we face increasing challenges like wildfires, climate change, and habitat degradation. River Watch allows us to keep a close eye on key indicators of water quality, such as macroinvertebrate populations, which are great indicators of overall stream health. This work is especially important for post-fire recovery efforts, where monitoring water quality helps us respond quickly to changes and take effective actions to protect our watershed.

With the River Watch Program, ARWC is dedicated to making water quality monitoring a core part of our work. This fall, our Lake County and Middle Arkansas Project Coordinators, Sam Kaelin and Yates McConnell, began setting up new sampling sites, collecting vital data, and expanding our understanding of the watershed. In 2025, we plan to continue building on this momentum, expanding our testing locations and increasing the scope of our efforts in the Middle Arkansas River region.

We envision River Watch becoming a significant community-based effort. Through this program, local residents, volunteers, and partners can come together to make a real difference. By expanding our monitoring efforts, we can build a healthier, more resilient watershed for generations to come.