USGS scientist Kim Dibble works with eDNA equipment on the bank of a shallow section of Havasu Creek, Grand Canyon

USGS scientist Kimberly Dibble works with environmental DNA (eDNA) equipment on the bank of a shallow section of Havasu Creek, Grand Canyon. The Southwest Biological Science Center is partnering with Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service in the use of eDNA to detect aquatic invasive species in rivers and reservoirs in the southwestern US. 

A note on safety: On this trip, temperatures were between 110-120 F during the day. To avoid heat-related illness, staff use good safety practices by keeping shirts damp that facilitate evaporative cooling. While all staff on field trips wear PFD devices when they are in or near deeper water, in this particular scenario, when the water is very shallow and sampling is conducted from the bank, PFD equipment can further cause overheating in sunny, hot tributary canyons. The SBSC employs strict safety protocols that are specific to each type of field research conducted throughout a day during wilderness research trips.