First Investigation of Stream Health (FISH) Protocol

Are you Ready to Start?

Sart the Survey

Read on if you need more information:

FISH is a simple, family-friendly activity that asks easy-to-answer questions about what you see around a stream. Recording stream health data with FISH helps you and others understand how the health of the stream habitat is changing over time.

FISH is designed for use at a stream restoration site (riparian buffer planting, stream bank fencing installation, live staking, etc.) There you will observe various stream health indicators like water clarity, growth of plants, and signs of wildlife.

FISH observations should be completed at least once a year in the spring, but additional data sampling in the summer and fall would also be valuable to you. FISH participants are asked to report observations for at least three years but are encouraged to monitor for up to ten years or more.

We periodically schedule live webinars to go over the FISH program in more detail. There is also a recorded version of a previously held webinar if you wish to watch one at your convenience.

How to Become a FISH User

Before you sign up, take a moment to review the FISH protocol, which is available as a PDF that you can download or print. This protocol will tell you about the observations you will make at your stream site. You can also review our recorded webinar that talks all about using FISH.

Ready to Start Now?

The first step is to complete our short form to become an official FISH user.

Then, you can participate in FISH using the FISH mobile app on your smartphone. No smartphone? You can also print the FISH protocol and report your data on the FISH website.

• FISH Mobile Apps (Apple) (Android)
• Printable FISH Protocol and FISH Website Reporting Tool

 We recommend taking a printed copy of the FISH protocol with you into the field during your first observation or until you get the hang of it. You can also maintain hard copies to record your stream restoration effort successes.

Already a FISH User?

Complete this form if you want to request a new FISH monitoring station in the FISH reporting tool.

Additional Resources to help you with FISH

When making observations, it may be helpful to refer to some additional resources as a guide to identifying what you see. Here are some resources you might consider:

Interpreting Results

• Understanding Your Transparency Tube Measurements
• Embeddedness and Healthy Streams
• Bank Cover and Healthy Streams

Identifying Stream Bugs (Macroinvertebrates)

• Macroinvertebrates.org
• Stroud Water Research Center Macro Key

Identifying Fish, Reptiles, and Amphibians

• Common Reptiles and Amphibians of Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania Frog and Toad Breeding Phenology
• PA Herps (reptiles and amphibians)
• Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Penn State Extension and the Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center developed the original FISH Protocol as a project of the Conewago Creek Initiative. Chesapeake Commons developed the website and mobile apps as part of the Greening the Lower Susquehanna project. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) helped to fund both projects.