Staff and students took to the banks of the Barrow today to participate in the Big River Watch 2026 joining communities across Ireland and the UK in a nationwide citizen science initiative focused on understanding and protecting the health of our rivers and waterways.
Organised by the Sustainability Group, participants spent time observing the river environment along the Barrow; identifying wildlife, assessing river conditions, and recording their findings through the Big River Watch app. The event provided an opportunity to engage with the local natural environment while contributing valuable information to a national environmental monitoring project.
What is the Big River Watch?
The Big River Watch is a citizen science project organised by The Rivers Trust and takes place twice each year. People across Britain and Ireland are invited to visit a local river, stream, lake, or coastal area during a designated week, spend approximately ten minutes making observations, and answer a series of questions using a mobile app. The information is then uploaded to a central database where it is collated to create a picture of river health across the UK and Ireland.
Running since 2023, the project enables environmental organisations and local communities to track changes in river conditions over time, helping to identify trends and areas where action may be needed.
Why It Matters
Ireland’s rivers are a vital part of our natural heritage, supporting biodiversity, recreation, and community wellbeing. However, rivers continue to face challenges including pollution, habitat degradation, and the impact of runoff from surrounding land uses.
The Big River Watch helps address gaps in environmental data by encouraging members of the public to collect observations directly from waterways in their local areas. These real-world observations contribute to a better understanding of water quality, biodiversity, and environmental pressures, supporting efforts to improve and protect rivers for future generations.
In simple terms, just ten minutes spent observing a local river can help build a clearer picture of the health of waterways across entire catchments and inform future conservation efforts.
Learning Through Citizen Science
The initiative also provided an opportunity for participants to learn more about citizen science, which involves members of the public contributing to scientific research and environmental monitoring. Citizen science projects enable ordinary people to work alongside researchers and organisations by collecting data and making observations that support scientific understanding.
Ireland has a strong tradition of citizen science through initiatives led by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, including programmes such as the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, Flower-Insect Timed (FIT) Count, Explore Your Shore, and the Rare Plant Monitoring Scheme. These projects demonstrate how individuals can make a meaningful contribution to environmental research, regardless of their level of expertise.
Supporting Sustainability at Carlow College
Participation in Big River Watch aligns with Carlow College’s commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility, and community engagement. By taking part in this national initiative, staff and students not only gained a greater appreciation of the ecological importance of the River Barrow but also contributed to a wider effort to better understand and protect one of our most valuable natural resources.
The Sustainability Group would like to thank everyone who joined the lunchtime walk and looks forward to continuing to support activities that promote environmental awareness, biodiversity conservation, and positive action for a more sustainable future.