Latest Updates
Research announcements, field updates, press releases, and media coverage from the Institute of Inland Whale Studies.
May 2026
IIWS researchers have confirmed the presence of orca at a second high-altitude Colorado reservoir, expanding the known range of the inland Rocky Mountain population. Acoustic signatures and photographic evidence match individuals previously catalogued at Blue Mesa Reservoir, suggesting active inter-reservoir migration. Full findings to be published in the forthcoming IIWS Proceedings Vol. 7.
March 2026
Following IIWS recommendations, the Maricopa Coastal Authority has installed "Unpredictable Marine Activity" warning signage at four additional inland water access points across Maricopa County. The expanded signage program is part of the updated Local Ordinance 14.3 framework, co-authored by IIWS and adopted by the Authority in February 2026.
January 2026
The annual IIWS Proceedings Lecture Series opens its fifth season at the Tempe Town Lake Research Station. This year's program features six public lectures covering new acoustic data, the Rocky Mountain Orca documentation project, and a presentation by Dr. Steinbeck on emerging evidence of cetacean presence in the New Mexico river system. All events are free and open to the public.
October 2025
The sixth volume of the IIWS Proceedings is now available. This year's edition focuses on the first full year of Rocky Mountain Orca documentation, including complete acoustic data, photo-ID catalog, and analysis of the population's behavioral patterns. Request your copy through the publications office.
For media inquiries, interview requests, or use of IIWS imagery and data in publication, please contact our communications office.
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