Bug hunts and water quality

Certain bugs (stoneflies and other benthic-macroinvertebrates) and other wildlife indicate the health of our rivers. Identifying these insects is a perfect job for volunteers; it’s fun and builds environmental stewardship, while providing a cost-effective data set. Annual bug hunts and frog and toad surveys organized by watershed organizations engage more than 600 volunteers each year. Some of the bug hunts occur in the dead of winter – January – while the frog and toad surveys take place in spring.

Since our Foundation’s inception in 2009, we’ve been proud to provide general operating support to watershed organizations in southeast Michigan. And most recently, when Friends of the Rouge suddenly lost funding for its bug hunts, the Foundation stepped up to help with the shortfall. Read the Detroit Free Press article here.

Improving water quality and building stewardship are critical to our Foundation’s mission. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Friends of The Rouge, Huron River Watershed Council, Clinton River Watershed Council and Friends of The Detroit River.