This project is for collecting information about species distribution and habitats of crayfish in the Columbia River Watershed. There is only one native species to the Pacific Northwest and non-native crayfish have been increasingly invading water bodies within the Pacific Northwest. The virile (or northern) crayfish (Orconectes sanbornii) has invaded many water bodies and has recently been documented in the Upper Columbia River.

Invasive crayfish differ in their interactions within aquatic communities and their encroachment may also result in the decline of valuable fisheries and reduced ecosystem function.

During 2012 Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area began conducting a park-wide inventory of crustaceans & bivalves for Lake Roosevelt and the upper Columbia River region to discover how crayfish move throughout the season, their relative abundance and species distribution and how they may be affected by the drawdown of the reservoir.

Due to staff levels this study was discontinued. A large number of school groups participating in The River Mile expressed interest in helping with the crayfish research and so this study was created.

Any school group located in the Columbia River Watershed can participate and submit data about crayfish in their area. Any information collected and submitted will aid in the understanding of the distribution and populations of crayfish species in the Columbia River Watershed and the greater Pacific Northwest.

Please check the fishing regulations for your state for specific requirements and dates. In Washington the season is open from the first Monday in May through October.

For more information about crayfish check out The River Mile's Crayfish study webpage. http://www.nps.gov/laro/forteachers/crayfish-study.htm less ↑