FreshWater Watch: Citizen Scientists Monitoring the Global Freshwater System

Urbanization and intensive agricultural activities have led to the loss of aquatic ecosystem services throughout the world. The inability of decision-makers to manage environmental change is a direct result of their limited... [ view full abstract ]

Urbanization and intensive agricultural activities have led to the loss of aquatic ecosystem services throughout the world. The inability of decision-makers to manage environmental change is a direct result of their limited capacity to monitor ecosystems and to address emerging sustainability issues on a large scale. An integrated approach to involve new audiences in these issues is key to ensure the sustainable use of our freshwater resources. FreshWater Watch (FWW) is a global freshwater research program which aims to empower citizens, corporations and local communities in the monitoring and management of their local freshwater ecosystems in a scientifically robust, but straightforward and accessible manner. FWW participants form a global network of citizen scientists active in 32 urban areas in Asia, Australia, the Americas and Europe. Following a globally consistent training program, these citizen scientists support leading researchers to address local and global research priorities by obtaining information regarding the hydrological, ecological and chemical conditions of their local water bodies. All measurements follow a common methodology and quality control process and are uploaded to one global online database. An international team of scientists use these data to explore and compare the driving factors of freshwater ecosystem dynamics with respect to differences in climate, land use and catchment conditions. Based on more than 4500 data sets obtained by nearly 1000 active citizen scientists, preliminary results suggest population density, land cover and precipitation timing are key factors controlling aquatic ecosystem dynamics. Furthermore, data from across the globe indicate that smaller water bodies present better ecological conditions than larger waterbodies, which suggests the need for a fundamental shift in our water management priorities. These results are already being used to inform local water resource management plans as well as demonstrate the capacity of committed citizens in monitoring the Global Freshwater System.