Contributing to Conservation: iNaturalist
iNaturalist is a online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help advance education, biodiversity science and conservation. By recording and sharing your observations in iNaturalist, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. iNaturalist is a joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society.
Setting up an account and using the site is easy. Watch the video below to learn more.
Merced River Watershed
Most observation contributions stretch between the Merced River corridor through Yosemite National Park, with over 1655 confirmed identified species. Observations help 56 species hold a threatened conservation status (endangered, vulnerable, or near-threatened)
South Fork Merced River: Wawona Covered Bridge to Swinging Bridge
Though less traveled than other areas of the Merced River, the South Fork is home to incredible species. The wild stretches of river below Wawona has some of the most intense Class V whitewater that is largely inaccessible except by hiking with a kayak into the area. Within Yosemite, the river possesses one of the few remaining pristine Sierra Nevada fisheries with self-sustaining populations of rainbow, eastern brook and brown trout.
