The North Santiam Watershed Council and the South Santiam Watershed Council are hosting a whole-basin Bioblitz from October 21st to October 25th! Together, the North and South Santiam River basins cover around 1,806 square miles of land. These watersheds are incredibly diverse, hosting different types of biomes and habitats, and within that, a wide range of species to discover.

What is a Bioblitz?

A BioBlitz is an event where people gather to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, insects, and other organisms as possible within a set time and area. It’s a fun, community-driven activity that brings together scientists, naturalists, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. By participating in this BioBlitz, you’ll be engaging in community-based science, helping to create a detailed snapshot of the biodiversity in the whole Santiam River Basin. The data collected can reveal trends in the presence of invasive species, highlight areas where native species are thriving, and even confirm the existence of species not previously documented in certain locations. Your participation is crucial to the success of this project. Together, we can gather valuable information that will support conservation in our local ecosystems.

Using iNaturalist has many advantages, including access to a large community of experts who help confirm identifications. After you upload an observation, iNaturalist uses a computer model that helps recommend an initial identification. After this, community experts review and verify the observations to double-check the identification. To maximize the effectiveness of your observations, consider uploading multiple pictures of the same organism from different angles and aspects, and make sure the photos are in focus and well-lit. This helps experts identify the species more accurately and contributes to the quality of the data collected.

So, if you’re in your backyard, at a county park, floating the river, or camping higher in the mountains on one of the South Santiam’s beautiful tributaries, pull out your phone, snap some photos, and help us document all the awesome plants and critters the South Santiam basin has to offer. To join the BioBlitz, download the iNaturalist app from the App Store or Google Play. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or just curious about the world around you, your contributions are important. Let’s explore, discover, and document the incredible diversity of life in the South Santiam River basin together!

Once you have downloaded iNaturalist, join the iNaturalist project here!

Need a quick tutorial for using iNaturalist? Watch the 5 – minute video below!