Freshwaters Illustrated

05/23/2026

Today is World Fish Migration Day 🌎🐟

We’re celebrating the remarkable journeys of migratory fish and the connected waterways that make those journeys possible. From rivers and creeks to estuaries and open ocean, ancient species like salmon, lamprey, and sturgeon follow migration routes that sustain ecosystems, nourish communities, and connect entire landscapes.

Every migration tells a larger story about survival, adaptation, and the living threads that bind water, wildlife, and people together.

Support our work and receive exclusive content from WFMD through June 21st!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-and-join-spring-campaign

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This clip is from SMOLT - a Freshwaters Illustrated film. Produced in partnership with the Salmon Watersheds Laboratory at Simon Fraser University and in cooperation with Gitanyow Fisheries, Lake Babine Nation, Wet'suwet'en Nation Fisheries, Lax Kw'aalams, Invisible Migration Ceremony, and Skeena Fisheries Commission. Directed by Jeremy Monroe and David Herasimtschuk. Sound design by Matt Kellam.

05/23/2026

Today is World Fish Migration Day 🌎🐟

We’re celebrating the remarkable journeys of migratory fish and the connected waterways that make those journeys possible. From rivers and creeks to estuaries and open ocean, ancient species like salmon, lamprey, and sturgeon follow migration routes that sustain ecosystems, nourish communities, and connect entire landscapes.

But many of these pathways have been fragmented by dams, degraded habitat, warming waters, and barriers that interrupt movement between spawning, feeding, and refuge habitats.

Protecting fish migration means protecting connectivity itself: free-flowing rivers, healthy wetlands, resilient watersheds, and the countless relationships carried within them.

Every migration tells a larger story about survival, adaptation, and the living threads that bind water, wildlife, and people together.

Our role, as always, is to help share and grow this movement through film, photography, education, and community outreach. Over the last 20+ years, we’ve told dozens of stories highlighting the work of freshwater stewards across North America.

From now until June 21, ANY donation will receive exclusive access to our restoration films celebrating resilience and recovery PLUS a special sticker pack to help you show your support and share the message of freshwater stewardship.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-and-join-spring-campaign

05/22/2026

Long before Western industrialization, species like Pacific Lamprey shaped relationships between people and rivers.

Their story is one of resilience, cultural connection, and ecological importance.

Cayuse Tribal Member, Gabe Sheoships, carries on an enduring cultural practice in Oregon's Willamette Falls, where lamprey and native people gather today and have time in memoriam. Learn more about place-based, cultural and ecological learning opportunities and events in the Portland-metro area by following Friends Of Tryon Creek!

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From PLACE - a Freshwaters Illustrated film. Directed by Jeremy Monroe and David Herasimtschuk. Sound design by Matt Kellam. Produced in Partnership with

05/18/2026

05/18/2026

Olympia WA 📍 FREE learning opportunity this week with Washington Invasive Species Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Attention all natural resources managers in the Olympia area!

We’ve teamed up with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to offer a FREE two-day Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point planning course.

The course will teach you a five-step process that can reduce the risk of spreading invasive species and will help you develop plans specifically tailored to identify and control non-target species that may become a threat to natural resources.

It’s an in-person, two-day planning course happening on May 21 and 22 from 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Space is limited so sign up soon. Learn more/register: https://invasivespecies.wa.gov/event/pulling-together-to-prevent-and-stop-noxious-weeds-in-washington/

05/18/2026

Beneath the surface, entire worlds are at work. This is where freshwater life begins, hidden below are vibrant colors in graceful motion and intricate detail we rarely stop to or can see.

Here, overlooked species come into focus, revealing the intricate connections that quietly sustain these waters.

Explore more through our films and classroom resources! We're excited to have you in our freshwater community 🐟 🦐 🦟

Find links in our bio or checkout ➡️ linktr.ee/freshwatersillustrated

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From our film Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia.Produced with support from Lyndhurst Foundation, Tennessee Valley Authority, US Forest Service and others. Music by Humming House. Directed by Jeremy Monroe and David Herasimtschuk. Sound design by Matt Kellam. Narrated by Suzanne Frank.

05/13/2026

Tennessee Folks 📍

Hidden Rivers Screening in Spring City, TN hosted in partnership with Laurel Dace Day.

Happening this Friday May 15th!

Hidden Rivers is a 1-hour film that explores the rivers and streams of the Southern Appalachian region, North America’s most biologically rich waters. The film follows the work of conservation biologists and explorers throughout the region - revealing both the beauty and vulnerability of this aquatic life - how many people are finding ways to protect these ecosystems.

Screening will be at 6pm located at the Tennessee Valley Theatre 🎥

Check out Tennessee Aquarium and https://tnaqua.org/events-programs/laurel-dace-day/ for more details on the event!

05/07/2026

Every journey starts small. These juvenile salmon are beginning a migration that connects mountain streams to the ocean and back again.

River estuaries play a vital role as nursery habitats for young salmon. Explore how these early stages matter when their survival shapes entire ecosystems.

Watch more from our film SMOLT by checking out our Youtube page or enjoy the full film by becoming a Freshwaters Illustrated member - https://gswp.me/support-fi

Follow Freshwaters Illustrated to discover biodiversity more freshwater stories under the surface!

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This clip is from SMOLT - a Freshwaters Illustrated film. Produced in partnership with the Salmon Watersheds Laboratory at Simon Fraser University and in cooperation with Gitanyow Fisheries, Lake Babine Nation, Wet'suwet'en Nation Fisheries, Lax Kw'aalams, Invisible Migration Ceremony, and Skeena Fisheries Commission. Directed by Jeremy Monroe and David Herasimtschuk. Sound design by Matt Kellam.

05/01/2026

Freshwater ecosystems support extraordinary biodiversity, but rarely seen underwater 🦀

Our goal is to reveal these hidden worlds through visual storytelling. Sharing the subtle, creative, and surprising characters below the waters surface.

Discover freshwater imagery that tells real stories of rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Browse, license, or print images from the Freshwater Archive.

We offer a wide-range of resources here, including access to our FREE public archive as well as exclusive MEMBER content, when you make a donation to . Your support directly supports freshwater conservation, advocacy, and education across the U.S!

📸 🦐 Click the link in our bio or browse our archive ➡️ https://gswp.me/public-archive

Love what you find there? Make sure to share and tag us!
Print purchases can be made ➡️ https://gswp.me/fi-archive

04/27/2026

Teachers across the country are using our freshwater stories to bring their lessons to life, helping young learners connect with freshwater ecosystems, and the people who work to understand and care for them.

Bring the field trip to the classroom with high-quality films, photos, and educational activities designed for classroom learning. Freshwaters Illustrated has curated these resources completely FREE for K-12 educators to access!

Sign up ➡️ https://gswp.me/fi-waterteachers
Drop your questions and @ your educator friends and family below.

Love that K-12 Water Teachers' exists? Show your support by making a donation OR simply engaging with/re-sharing this post so more young people can access!

Are you already a Water Teacher? We would love to hear from you, DM us your experiences, what's working best for you, or a favorite activity/film resource you have used so far.