Project Background: Natural England and the Freshwater Biological Association working together to develop and pilot a new citizen science project to monitor the health of English lakes. Assessing the health of our waterways is vital to identify and ameliorate potential stressors and impacts. Engaging volunteers (citizen scientists) in this process has multiple benefits from education on and engagement with our blue spaces, increasing the amount of data which can be collected and used to identify potential issues, and raising awareness of the stresses facing our freshwaters. The Riverfly Partnership Riverfly Monitoring Initiative is a fantastic example of where a citizen-led approach can lead to engagement and monitoring of our waterways in an efficient yet robust way