JC NERR Eel Monitoring Community Science Program
Since 2008, the Hudson River NERR has been successfully monitoring glass eels across various sites along the Hudson River with help from local volunteers. In 2021, funds through a National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Science Collaborative Transfer Grant allowed the JC NERR to adopt this program from the Hudson River NERR and establish its own eel monitoring community science effort.
This program is the first community science volunteering opportunity initiated and overseen directly by staff at the JC NERR, strengthening relationships between the reserve and surrounding communities and providing useful information about the American eel to fisheries managers. Local teachers benefit from the eel monitoring program through the opportunity to incorporate more real-world, locally relevant science into their teachings. The program allows volunteers to experience real world scientific research in cooperation with Jacques Cousteau Reserve and educates participants on the ecological importance of the eels to the estuary and freshwater ecosystems.
The Impact:
- Established a JC NERR “Eel Team” of dedicated volunteers, with over 183 volunteer hours recorded throughout the first two years of the program, and engaged additional community members who expressed interest in future volunteering opportunities.
- Creates K-12 education opportunities to help students grapple with current environmental issues, experience hands-on stewardship, and learn about the ecological importance of eels to estuarine and freshwater ecosystems.
- Establishes new collaborative relationships among JC NERR and other regional programs involved or interested in eel monitoring.
