Imagine this: Two volunteers are standing in a shallow stream in the Sebago Lake Watershed. They’re facing downstream and kicking the bottom of the stream to dislodge debris into long-poled, fine-mesh nets called kick-nets. Next, the volunteers gather, sort, and analyze the insects they find. Working on the stream bank, they use trays, spoons, droppers, and jars to separate each organism and compare their findings against an identification guide of aquatic insects. These volunteers are not field biologists, rather they are community scientists trained to identify target macroinvertebrate species and classify them into categories of the least and most sensitive species based on their tolerance to water pollution.
This could be you!
Interested in seeing where Marsh and Stream Explorers are sampling and what critters have been found? Take a look at the map viewer and start exploring the streams in Maine!
For current volunteers, enter your data here:
Stream data here >
Marsh data here >
There are more than 5,000 rivers and streams in Maine! The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is only able to sample 50 to 60 per year focused within one region. Maine DEP surveys these streams for macroinvertebrates, many of which are sensitive to temperature, pollutants, and other environmental stressors and their presence or absence serve as an important indicator of overall wetland health. This data is then used to classify each site by water quality standards (Classes AA, A, B, C; from highest to lowest quality; see map), required by the Clean Water Act and then reported to Congress to summarize the condition of Maine waters. However, with Maine DEP only able to survey a small subset of sites, this highlighted a need for a large-scale screening database for sites that may not be surveyed otherwise.
Marsh and Stream Explorers started in 2020 as a partnership between Maine Audubon, Maine DEP, Lakes Environmental Association (LEA), and the Portland Water District to recruit, train, and support volunteers interested in surveying streams in the Sebago Lake Watershed, which had vital gaps in data and provides water for more than 200,000 Mainers. Because aquatic macroinvertebrates are just that—macro!—they are relatively easy to find and identify, making them ideal targets for community scientists. Since the beginning of the project, we’ve expanded to have volunteers across the state who provide critical data in support of healthy watersheds in Maine.
Maine Audubon and partners continue to train and support volunteers who help us to grow the project more each year, both by expanding to freshwater marsh surveys and gaining overall information statewide about the health of our streams and marshes. Although the volunteer data is not used to determine if a site meets water quality standards, the data is an invaluable screening tool to help Maine DEP prioritize where more in-depth water quality assessments should be conducted.
Volunteer Marsh and Stream Explorers do not need prior experience with stream surveying or aquatic insect identification. We will teach you everything you need to know and provide support to you throughout the survey season as needed.
Step 1: Watch training videos or attend an in-person training
Volunteers must watch two training videos to learn how to identify the different types of aquatic insects you are likely to find, along with instructions on how to conduct the survey. There is also a demonstration video that shows what a survey looks like in the field.
If you want to sharpen your identification skills, you can explore this interactive key or quiz yourself. You can also download the PocketMacros app and always have a pocket guide with you in the field! The app walks you through how to identify your macroinvertebrate and has flashcards for review.
Step 2: Gather your materials
Below are digital copies of detailed survey protocol guides, macroinvertebrate identification keys, and data forms for volunteers to use in the field. You can follow the basic or expanded version of the materials depending on your comfort level. The basic version groups the macroinvertebrates into types (mayflies, stoneflies, dragonflies, etc.) while the expanded version identifies species within each group.
| Streams (Basic) | Streams (Expanded) | Marshes |
| Protocol Guide | Protocol Guide | Protocol Guide |
| Identification Key | Identification Key | Identification Key |
| Data Form | Data Form | Data Form |
Survey equipment kits are available for check-out at various partner organizations and locations. See table below for locations and contact person:
| Gilsland Farm Audubon Center 20 Gilsland Farm Rd., Falmouth, ME 04105 | Mady Eori, meori@maineaudubon.org |
| Fields Pond Audubon Center 216 Fields Pond Road, Holden, ME 04429 | David Lamon, dlamon@maineaudubon.org |
| Portland Water District, Lake Office 1 White Rock Rd., Standish, ME | Carina Brown, cbrown@pwd.org |
| Cumberland Country Soil and Water Conservation District 35 Maine St #3, Windham, ME | Abby Olszewski, aolszewski@cumberlandswcd.org |
| Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission 268 Court St., Auburn, ME | Phoebe Hopkins, phopkins@awsd.org |
| Midcoast Conservancy 25 Friendship St, Waldoboro, ME | Morganne Price, morganne@midcoastconservancy.org |
If you’re unable to or can’t find a nearby location to loan equipment, please reach out to us at conserve@maineaudubon.org. You can also find a full list of what equipment is needed in the protocol guide if you’re interested in making your own kit.
Step 3: Choose your stream or freshwater marsh site
Explore the mapviewer to see where volunteers have conducted surveys statewide! As long as your stream or freshwater marsh fits the description outlined in the protocol guides, we encourage you to survey any site you’re interested in.
If you’d like more guidance, you can review these two lists compiled by DEP (List 1 and List 2). Reach out to us if you have questions about your site.
For 2026, we’re particularly focused on recruiting volunteers in the Androscoggin and Kennebec watersheds. If that’s you, we encourage you to join the project!
Step 4: Survey!
Now that you participated in or listened to a training and gathered your materials and equipment, it’s time to get outside and explore! As you’re surveying and recording your data, please remember to take pictures of your site and the macroinvertebrates you find! We encourage volunteers to survey at least one but preferably two or three sites between August and October. Each survey will take around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, plus travel time. We also suggest that volunteers survey in pairs for safety reasons or make a family adventure of it. Make sure you wear waders, muck boots, or other shoes/pants you don’t mind getting wet.
Step 5: Enter your data online
We encourage volunteers to enter data online via Survey123 at this form for streams and this form for marshes (this includes the pictures you took of your site and macroinvertebrates).
You do not need to have an account to enter data, you can click “continue without signing in” instead. You can do this while you are in the field surveying or you can use paper data forms in the field and input the data online once you get home. If you’re using a computer, first download the Survey123 application here and then use the links above to enter your data.
If you’re using a smartphone or a tablet you can click directly on the links above, or scan the QR codes below.
If you have any questions about using or downloading the application you can reach out to conserve@maineaudubon.org. You can also scan or take a picture of your data forms and email them and your pictures to the above email address, although online data entry is encouraged.
Step 6: Spread the word!
Although the primary goal of this project is to collect survey data on macroinvertebrates to better understand water quality in Maine, there is also a secondary benefit: to educate community members about the critical importance of insects to our ecosystem. As insect declines are documented around the globe, it is essential that we collect data on insect population health and long-term trends here in Maine. By participating in this project, sharing what you learned, and encouraging others to join, you’re playing a vital role in helping to conserve and protect watersheds and the species that call them home. Thank you for being a Marsh and Stream Explorer!
2026 workshops:
Marsh and Stream Explorers Field Days
Come out to the field for a fun learning day for the Marsh and Stream Explorers program. Learn from Maine DEP experts on how to survey for and identify macroinvertebrates and practice doing it yourself. Every year we host both in-person programs and online training sessions.
ONLINE
Marsh and Stream Explorers: A Treasure Hunt to Find Healthy Freshwater Habitats in Maine
Wednesday, April 22, 7–8 pm
Learn about this collaborative community science project that trains volunteers to survey for large aquatic insects in streams and freshwater marshes statewide. Register here >
FIELD TRAININGS
Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden
Saturday, April 25, 10 am–12 pm
Mill Brook Preserve, Westbrook
Saturday, April 25, 9:30 am–12 pm
Little River Preserve, Topsham
Saturday, May 2, 10 am–12:30 pm
Hosted by the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust
Wings Mills Dam, Belgrade
Saturday, May 16, 10 am–12:30 pm
Hosted by 7 Lakes Alliance
McCoy-Chapman Forest, Gilead
Saturday, May 30, 10 am–12:30 pm
Hosted by the Mahoosuc Land Trust
Training and demonstration videos (YouTube playlist)
Interactive identification key and quiz and PocketMacros app
Submit your stream data
Submit your marsh data
