Who Are We?
Flow365 Monitors are volunteers who track the status of flow in our creeks and rivers year round. When they monitor, they also collect observations on the plants and animals in Tucson’s local riparian habitats. This one-of-a-kind data is helping us restore Tucson’s heritage of flowing creeks and rivers, adapt to climate change, and prepare for a growing population that places higher demands on our regional and local water sources. In both the near and distant future, Flow365 data will help the people of Tucson protect our water, riparian habitats, and the people, plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert.
Sign Up to Be a Flow Monitor by joining the River Run Network
Why Collect This Data?
While county agencies have flow gauges at some points across Tucson to be able to alert the public about flooding, the data our Flow365 volunteers have been collecting since 2016 paints a more complete picture by recording gentler flows and capturing how flow starts and stops at different times of year. This data is critical to helping us understand how our desert rivers respond to changes in precipitation and groundwater levels. It also helps us determine the impact of collective conservation actions on creek flows, as we strive towards our long-term goal of restoring Tucson’s heritage of flowing creeks and rivers.
Past Flow365 Annual Reports
Read our past Flow365 Annual Water Year Reports. These reports highlight Flow365 sites across the city with an in-depth review on the water year, understanding how much the area flowed during that time, and what it may mean for our rivers.
Flow365 Community Monitoring Data Dashboard
Our Flow365 Community Scientists collect data from all over our city, with this dashboard you can see what's happening in our creeks and rivers today, last week, or even over the last year!
River Run Network Flow365 Monitoring Map
This map shows our waterways within the Santa Cruz River watershed as well as our active surface flow and groundwater monitoring sites across the city. If you are interested, or live close to one of our monitoring sites, we would love to have you join the Flow365 Monitoring Program.
How Do I Volunteer?
Our Flow365 monitors are in the field collecting flow data at least once a month, but often weekly or even daily during periods of changing flow. To join this incredible group of volunteers, sign up for the River Run Network to be the first to hear about the next Flow365 Monitoring Training! There’s no scientific background necessary to join.
As a Flow365 Monitor, you’ll get the chance to meet other volunteers at our two hour training session and have a personal site visit with our River Run Network Program Manager Lauren Knight at your new monitoring site. You will commit to one year of monitoring flow at your site. You’ll also receive monthly updates from other monitoring sites, weather and flow forecasts for Tucson, and learn about other river restoration events and advocacy opportunities happening in our community.
