Scientific Programs
IIWS operates four 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 for public access.
Continuous hydrophone arrays deployed at Tempe Town Lake, Lake Pleasant, and Saguaro Lake track cetacean vocalizations year-round. Our signal library now contains over 4,200 catalogued calls attributed to inland populations.
Seasonal movement corridors through Arizona's Salt River watershed are mapped using satellite telemetry tags and remote sensing. We have documented three distinct migration routes connecting the Colorado River system to inland reservoirs.
Photo-ID catalogs and environmental DNA sampling allow us to estimate population sizes, family structures, and inter-reservoir movement. 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, captured in collaboration with the USGS Mountain West Division.
Our citizen science platform enables verified sighting submissions from members of the public. Over 1,400 submissions have been received since 2019, with 340 confirmed as credible sightings by IIWS researchers.
Ongoing assessment of human activity on inland whale habitats, including recreational boating, dam operations, and water diversion. Findings inform Maricopa Coastal Authority ordinances and federal water management policy.