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The First Investigation of Stream Health (FISH) tool is a fun and easy way for individuals, families, volunteer groups, youth, and adults to explore a stream and track changes over time. The tool guides you through observations of various stream health indicators like water clarity, growth of plants, and signs of wildlife.
The FISH protocol and recording tools recently underwent a major overhaul. Users can now track more information about their stream in a more user-friendly tool and with more helpful resources to guide the process. Whether you have heard about FISH before or this is brand new to you, now is the perfect time to try out this simple and fun stream exploration activity!
Penn State Extension and the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center developed the First Investigation of Stream Health (FISH) Protocol as a citizen science monitoring protocol to not only assess habitat but to also provide the opportunity to record information on the organisms living in and around the stream to get a fuller picture of stream health.
FISH works best at current or potential/future stream restoration sites (riparian buffer planting, stream bank fencing installation, live staking, etc.) and when the site is monitored over time. Used in this way, the tool can help you track positive or negative changes over time and show you how streams react to different actions taken on the surrounding landscape.
If you don’t want to monitor a stream over time, FISH can be used just once to guide your nature experience, to establish a baseline sense of stream health, or to teach others about visual stream health indicators.
While all you need to get started is available on the Penn State Extension website, a webinar was also held recently, and the recording is available to watch and learn all about this revamped stream monitoring tool.
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