We can stream music and movies to our devices, but what about streaming live data from streams? Monitoring flow and water quality in streams has typically been expensive and labor intensive, but the advent of “smart” technology is making stream monitoring more accessible. For this project, we are using low-cost, open-source technology such as Arduino-based dataloggers, water quality sensors, and cell modems to monitor streams and transmit data in real-time. The low cost of this technology (<10% of typical monitoring equipment) and the ability to transmit data in real-time allows us to create much larger stream monitoring networks and collect more/better data. We have utilized resources from EnviroDIY.org (a Stroud Water Research Center initiative) to build, program, and deploy stream monitoring stations, but this work also aligns with a broader initiative within the scientific community to make stream and environmental monitoring more accessible. Scott Ensign (Piehler lab alum and Assistant Director of the Stroud Water Research Center) recently wrote about the EnviroDIY initiative for AGU’s EOS: https://eos.org/project-updates/a-digital-mayfly-swarm-is-emerging

Visit our project website to view the documentation for our stream gauges: https://ims-stream-gauges.netlify.com/