Mayfly Club
Young Stewards of Fresh Water

Mayfly larva on stream bottom

What is the purpose of the Mayfly Club?
The Mayfly Club is a membership and volunteer group of young adults (21 – 40) dedicated to raising awareness and support for the Stroud Water Research Center and the issues facing the future of the world’s supply of fresh water.
 
How does the Mayfly Club accomplish its purpose?
The Mayfly Club uses a combination of social events and educational workshops to raise awareness and support for the Stroud Center, its programs and issues.
 
Why the name Mayfly Club?
The reason for that name is that mayflies are one of the most common and important members of the freshwater insect community.  Because most species of mayflies are the preferred food for many freshwater carnivores, including other insects and fishes, they form a fundamental link in the freshwater food chain.  Many species of mayfly are highly susceptible to water pollution and it is for this reason that mayflies have proved very useful in the analysis or biomonitoring of water quality.

On June 2, 2007 the Mayfly Club explored the banks of the Wissahickon Creek in Valley Green Park with scientists from the Stroud Center. Participants learned how to conduct a macroinvertebrate sampling similar to the way Stroud scientists do in order to learn about the health of the Schuylkill watershed.

Read a summary of the day's events and view a slideshow of photos.