Scientific Programs
IIWS operates six active research programs spanning acoustic monitoring, population genetics, migration tracking, and environmental impact assessment. All findings are peer-reviewed and submitted to the IIWS Proceedings.
IIWS researchers captured this encounter during a routine hydrophone maintenance deployment. The animal surfaced within 4 meters of the research vessel before submerging. Vocalization data recorded during the event is being analyzed for inclusion in Vol. 7 of the IIWS Proceedings.
Active Programs
Continuous hydrophone arrays at Tempe Town Lake, Lake Pleasant, and Saguaro Lake track cetacean vocalizations year-round. Our signal library now contains over 4,200 catalogued calls.
Seasonal movement corridors through Arizona's Salt River watershed are mapped using satellite telemetry tags and remote sensing. Three distinct migration routes have been confirmed.
Photo-ID catalogs and environmental DNA sampling allow us to estimate population sizes and family structures. Current estimates suggest 12–18 individuals in the greater Phoenix basin.
A confirmed breeding population of orca has been documented in high-altitude Colorado reservoir systems. IIWS holds the only peer-reviewed photographic and acoustic evidence of this population.
Our citizen science platform enables verified sighting submissions from the public. Over 1,400 submissions received since 2019, with 340 confirmed as credible by IIWS researchers.
Ongoing assessment of human activity on inland whale habitats, including recreational boating, dam operations, and water diversion — informing Maricopa Coastal Authority ordinances.
Species Documentation
IIWS has documented two primary species in the Southwest inland whale range. The Desert Lake Whale — a large-bodied sperm whale variant — reaches estimated lengths of 14–16 meters. The Rocky Mountain Lake Whale, an orca subspecies, averages 6–7 meters. Both are depicted here at scale relative to a human diver and African elephant for reference.
Archival Evidence
Photographic evidence of large unidentified aquatic animals in inland waterways predates formal IIWS research by decades. This archival image, analyzed by Dr. Steinbeck's team, exhibits morphological characteristics consistent with the Desert Lake Whale — suggesting established inland populations well before systematic study began.
IIWS maintains an archive of 87 historical images submitted by members of the public and sourced from regional records dating to the mid-twentieth century. Forensic image analysis is ongoing.
Inland whale activity occurs in the same waters used daily by thousands of recreational users. IIWS works with the Maricopa Coastal Authority to ensure signage, public education, and real-time hazard alerts reach water users before they encounter a whale at close range. This photograph, submitted through the IIWS Public Sightings Program, illustrates the proximity of whale activity to casual recreation.