PROJECTS And Updates

Water Quality and Quantity Monitoring on the Upper Yellowstone River

Water Quantity Monitoring on the Madison River

Predictive Modeling for the Upper Yellowstone River Watershed

RiverNET Video Library

RiverNET

Version 1.1 of the RiverNET Web Application is here! The app is free and anyone create account to view our latest data for the Upper Yellowstone River. Join your community and sign-up for the RiverNET app today!

Program overview

YERC’s RiverNET is a community-based cooperative watershed monitoring program focused on providing verified data for watersheds in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and using this data to develop river forecasts. RiverNET utilizes an online application to display data in near real-time on YERC’s EPIIC Center. This provides a platform for community members to share and visualize information. RiverNET data and predictions can be easily accessed by landowners, outfitters, government agencies, recreational users, and everyone else interested in the health of our wonderful watersheds. It can be used to help stakeholders make key land management, business, and conservation decisions. 

program objectives

• Collect verified water quality and quantity data for watersheds in the GYE using MDEQ approved methods. 

• Encourage community involvement and cooperation with monitoring efforts. Provide opportunities for community involvement with RiverNET including volunteer days. 

• Make data publicly available on the RiverNET web application through the use of cloud-based sharing. 

• Develop reliable short-term river forecasting reflective of weather forecasts. Develop long term simulation modeling allowing users to explore various scenarios. Verify predictions with data from monitoring. 

• Expand the program to other watersheds in the GYE. 

program history

In 2016, a parasite outbreak on the Yellowstone River killed tens of thousands of fish, resulting in a temporary river closure that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost economic revenues. Although the parasite (Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, a relative of jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones) and the resulting fish-killing disease (Proliferative Kidney Disease, or PKD) are known, questions remain about the underlying causes of this disaster. This highlighted the need for more and better data on our vulnerable watersheds in the GYE. YERC responded to this catastrophe with the launch of the RiverNET program in 2018. The program builds on solutions to the region’s most pressing conservation issues identified during YERC’s 2017 Envision Yellowstone strategic planning conference hosted for private tech sector thought-leaders, as well as a National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant YERC collaborated on with the University of Montana in 2010.

In 2022, the RiverNET program now enters its fourth year of operation and we are excited to continue to improve it! The first three years of the program have been very successful. Some of the programs accomplishments thus far are listed below!

• A strong, standardized monitoring system for the Upper Yellowstone River 

• The installation of 15 new discharge and temperature monitoring stations 

• Regular water quality monitoring at 27 sites for 7 key diagnostics

• Hands-on field experience for 13 undergraduate and post-baccalaureate interns 

• A cloud-based data sharing platform

what we monitor

YERC monitors the water quality in watersheds in the GYE through water sampling. YERC staff and volunteers manually collect water quality samples in the field and analyze these samples in-house at our field station in Paradise Valley. YERC field technicians are currently analyzing the following water quality parameters in our water samples:

• Temperature

• pH

• Nitrate, Nitrite, and Total Nitrogen

• Orthophosphate and Total Phosphorus

YERC monitors the water quantity in watersheds in the GYE through manual measurements at established gaging stations and with the use of electronic sensors. YERC field technicians are currently analyzing the following water quantity parameters: 

• Stage (Depth)

• Discharge (Flow)

Our Technology 

YERC staff utilize the following devices and methods to monitor water quality and quantity for RiverNET: 

• Established Stream Gaging Stations

• Onset MX2001 Data Loggers

• Hach DR900 Colorimeters for water quality testing

• Smart phones for downloading and uploading data

• Web-Based data sharing platform

How to Get Involved

• Sign up for the RiverNET web application to access and use the data for free!

• Provide feedback on the web application! We would love to hear any suggestions you have or about the ways you were able to use RiverNET data!

• Join our Adopt-a-River program to help support RiverNET with local and sustainable fundraising. Learn more about the program in Paradise Valley here and learn more about the program on the Madison here.

• Volunteer with YERC. Volunteer opportunities will be posted here.

• Donate to YERC here.

Technical documents