Great Rivers Field Station
For humanity, rivers are a source of sustenance and transportation. They create valleys, irrigate fields, and offer places for recreation and gathering. Although they provide drinking water, food, transportation, and recreation, large rivers like the Mississippi and Illinois have not received the same attention from scientists as oceans, lakes, or small streams. The Great Rivers Field Station was established to help fill that gap.
Protecting Rivers
The Great Rivers Field Station (GRFS) is part of the Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Along the Mississippi River, near the Melvin Price Lock and Dam 26, GRFS collaborates with its sister stations—the Illinois River Biological Station and the Forbes Biological Station—to enhance scientific understanding of large river ecosystems. Through continuous research and monitoring, GRFS provides information that supports river conservation and management throughout the region.
Supporting Healthy Fish and Waterways
Research at the Great Rivers Field Station supports better decision-making for rivers and the communities that depend on them. Scientists at the station monitor fish populations, study invasive species, and contribute to national restoration efforts. Their work is part of larger, longitudinal projects, such as the Long Term Survey and Assessment of Large-River Fishes in Illinois and the Long Term Resource Monitoring program, which help track changes across some of the Midwest’s most important waterways.
Cooperation
Strong partnerships are at the center of the Great Rivers Field Station’s work. Collaboration with state and federal agencies, universities, and conservation groups, such as the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program, expands research efforts and enables scientists to apply what they learn to real-world problems. By working closely with others, GRFS helps protect the future of large river ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.
