Extended Riverfly

The Riverfly Extended Scheme, an expanded version of the Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (RMI), has been launched with two main goals:

• To provide more detailed data on streams and rivers. Interpretation of these data is aided by two new biotic indices to detect and measure pollution and habitat degradation.

• To provide a training and progression pathway for volunteers to develop and improve their freshwater invertebrate identification skills. Once volunteers are confident in their bankside identification of the eight RMI groups, they can progress — Extended is not a starting point for anyone wanting to monitor the health of their waterways.

The number of freshwater invertebrate groups monitored is expanded from the eight in RMI to thirty-three in the Extended Riverfly scheme.

The Riverfly Extended Scheme is supported by a new identification chart and new training workshops, both of which have proved very popular with volunteers. It is hoped that the addition of this new Extended Scheme will encourage greater engagement in Riverfly monitoring, provide existing monitors with a way to further their knowledge and attract more volunteers to this fascinating subject. This will help to preserve and conserve the valuable wildlife of our streams and rivers.

Training includes background information on how the Riverfly Extended Scheme was developed as well as hands-on bankside sessions for the identification of the thirty-three invertebrate groups. Details of training can be obtained from your local RMI hub coordinator.

The Chart

The primary tool for Extended Riverfly monitoring is the new identification chart including:

• Photographs of all the invertebrates taken at the riverbank

• Distinguishing identification features

• Habitat and feeding notes

• Information on tolerance to environmental stressors

Click here to view the guide in our online shop

Biotic Indices

Biotic indices convert the detailed information on the invertebrate groups found into a simple numerical value that reflects how much a sample has been affected by a particular environmental stress.

The two biotic indices for Extended Riverfly are:

• Water Quality Score — this index summarises the organic pollution and general degradation affecting a sample.

• Silt and Flow Score — this index summarises the siltation and flow stress affecting a sample.

These biotic indices are complicated to calculate, so we recommend entering your Extended Riverfly data into the database, as this will calculate the indices for you. Further information on the biotic indices can be found on page two of the 6-month survey form.

Further Information about Extended Riverfly Development

Further information on the background of how the Extended Riverfly scheme was developed can be found in the launch video here:

Click to view the launch video