Did you know that the Rivanna River is home to otters?
It’s true! North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) have been spotted throughout the Rivanna River watershed—in rivers, streams, and even backyard ponds! While they’re best known for their playful antics, river otters are also important indicators of stream health. They depend on clean water, healthy riparian buffers, and abundant prey sources (including fish, amphibians, and benthic macroinvertebrates) for survival. As such, their presence or absence within our waterways can provide valuable insights into the overall health of our rivers and streams.
To learn more about the presence and distribution of river otters within our watershed, RCA has launched the Rivanna River Otter Monitoring Project (RROMP). This community science initiative seeks to gather valuable data on river otter populations while encouraging community members to get outside and explore our local waterways. RROMP aims not only to inspire public appreciation for river otters, but also foster a deeper community connection to our rivers and streams and the diverse wildlife populations they support.
Whether you’re walking the Rivanna trail, kayaking downriver, or enjoying the sunset over the water from a park bench, anyone can participate in collecting data for RROMP by submitting otter sightings to the project using the button below.
Otters are most active at dawn and dusk, but may be seen at any time of day. Keep your eyes on the river—you never know when an otter might make a splash! Happy otter spotting!