Student Watershed Research Project

Community-Based Watershed Research & Education

The Student Watershed Research Project (SWRP) engages community professionals, teachers, students, and residents in meaningful work to understand, enhance, and sustain watershed resources in the Portland–Vancouver metropolitan area. Through hands-on research, SWRP generates essential baseline data while building scientific knowledge and fostering the next generation of watershed stewards.

To support this work, SWRP offers practical field and classroom resources for educators, volunteers and students.

Stream Insects of the Pacific Northwest Field Guide

Stream Insects of the Pacific Northwest: A Field Guide

Designed for educators and volunteers, this introductory field guide supports streamside identification of aquatic insects commonly found in Pacific Northwest streams. Guides can be purchased for $20. All proceeds directly support water quality outreach and education.

Purchase Field Guide

Online Curriculum

The following videos support our online curriculum related to stream ecology experiments and community-based stream macroinvertebrate bioassessment.

Virtual Stream Experiments & Background Material

Unit 1: Stream Ecology Overview
Unit 2: Stream Macroinvertebrates
Unit 3: Stream Insect Ecology
Unit 4: Stream Food Webs
Unit 5: Stream Experiments
Virtual Experiment: Algae vs No Algae
Virtual Experiment: Sediment Scour
Virtual Experiment: Sediment Deposition
Virtual Experiment: Stream Velocity and Colonization
Virtual Experiment: Energy in the Drift
Virtual Experiment: Life History and Disturbance
Virtual Experiment: Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

Virtual Bioassessment & Background Material

Unit 1: Watersheds
Unit 2: Non-Point Source Pollution
Unit 3: Stream Macroinvertebrates
Unit 4: Community-Based Bioassessment
Unit 5: Calculating the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)
Unit 6: Conducting a Bioassessment
Unit 7: Improving and Restoring Streams
Virtual Bioassessment: Rock Creek

Publications

Take a look at the publications that have grown out of Student Watershed Research Project data and partnerships.