Local River Charity Seeks Volunteer Citizen Scientists to Monitor the Health of The River Usk

Talgarth-based charity, The Wye and Usk Foundation (WUF) is appealing for volunteers to join its citizen science team as part of a wider, national project.

No previous scientific knowledge is needed, just your time once a week.

Talgarth-based charity, The Wye and Usk Foundation is currently part of the Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo) project, a national project managed by The Rivers Trust, which seeks to engage local communities in the gathering of data on the health of the nation’s rivers in eight geographical areas.

As part of this scheme, the charity is appealing for river lovers along the upper catchment of the river Usk and its tributaries, between Brecon and Llandovery, to become volunteer citizen scientists to undertake and record weekly water quality monitoring.

These simple tests should take less than an hour of your time, once a week. No previous experience is needed; equipment and training will be provided free-of-charge by The Wye and Usk Foundation. WUF’s Citizen Science and Fundraising Coordinator, Helen Pruett, said “The Wye and Usk Foundation is dedicated to working collaboratively with individuals and community groups, and this is an excellent opportunity for anyone who enjoys spending time in riverside locations to get involved and help improve the health of the river Usk for the benefit of the wildlife and to safeguard it for future generations.”

To find out more about becoming a volunteer citizen scientist, contact volunteers@wyeuskfoundation.org or complete the quick and easy volunteer registration form on https://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/forms/volunteerregistration

The Wye and Usk Foundation is a registered charity (no. 1080319) concerned with ecology and more specifically, restoring the habitat, water quality and fisheries of the rivers Wye and Usk.