FinSpan & Freshwaters: A Game-changer for river conservation

by Jessica Mohlman | May 1, 2025 | Aquatic Organisms

A group of people sitting around tables in a semi circle shaped conference room with large windows on one side. People are playing board games on the tables.

All photos courtesy of the author.

What do strategy games, science and the Mississippi River have in common? This spring, they came together in a unique public event that proved you don’t have to wade deep into waters to start caring about fish, or the rivers they call home.

Hosted by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) in East Alton, FinSpan & Freshwaters welcomed families, gamers and curious community members for an afternoon of game play and discovery. At the center of it all was FinSpan, the newest board game by St. Louis Game Company, Stonemaier Games, the creators of the wildly popular bird-themed Wingspan. While the game itself is set in the ocean, the event was an opportunity to bring the conversation inland to our own freshwater ecosystems.

A Board Game Brought Them In, But the River Kept Them Hooked

A group of people walk over a concrete path overlooking a river. In the background is a riverbank filled with trees against a bright blue partly cloudy sky.

More than 50 guests spent the day at NGRREC’s stunning riverfront field station, greeted by views of the Mississippi River and activities that blended fun with learning. Many attendees discovered NGRREC for the first time, drawn in by the chance to play FinSpan, a beautifully designed board game focused on marine ecosystems.

The gameplay was immersive and engaging, but the event wasn’t just about rolling dice and placing cards. Before attendees claimed their gaming tables, NGRREC staff guided visitors through hands-on activities and displays about the center’s ongoing freshwater research. Participants could get creative with Gyotaku, a traditional Japanese fish printing art, then dive into discussions with researchers about pollutants such as microplastics, PFAS and other emerging freshwater contaminants that impact river health across the Mississippi River Basin.

What’s in the Water?

It turns out that fish are more than just game pieces, they’re indicators of the health of our rivers. While FinSpan centers on marine life, the science shared at the event helped attendees draw connections to the waters in their own backyards. NGRREC’s research focuses on freshwater contaminants. These pollutants don’t just threaten aquatic life but can also ripple out to possibly affect human health, recreation and even drinking water.

A close-up view of a round table-top while folks around the table are engrossed in playing a board games.

These freshwater contaminants include:

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs): A wide group of pollutants like pharmaceuticals, personal care products and pesticides. Though many remain unregulated, their effects on water quality and ecosystems are significant.
Microplastics: These tiny plastic fragments have found their way into Illinois rivers, where they can be ingested by fish and accumulate in the food chain.
PFAS and Endocrine Disruptors: Dubbed “forever chemicals,” PFAS persist in the environment, build up in fish tissue, and can interfere with growth and reproduction in aquatic species.

Visitors discovered how NGRREC studies modern freshwater contaminants and uses that research to inform conservation strategies across the Mississippi River Basin—empowering land managers, policymakers and educators to better protect these critical freshwater systems.

Science Meets Strategy

A group of people stand in a laboratory and listen to a scientist talk about their research.

Though the gameplay and research talks stood on their own, they shared a common current: what begins as simple game play can lead to a deeper understanding, and concern, for the fresh water and the fish in our own backyards.

As players competed to build thriving ecosystems in FinSpan, they were reminded how the health of aquatic life depends on clean and resilient environments. Meanwhile, those who toured the labs or spoke with researchers gained a better understanding of how seemingly invisible threats, like chemicals and microplastics, are silently shaping the future of our rivers and the fish that live in them.

Connecting People to Conservation

At its heart, FinSpan & Freshwaters was more than just a game day. It was a chance to reach new audiences and inspire curiosity about the natural world. The game brought people through the doors; the river and research invited them to stay and learn.

A colorful banner installed outside and to the left of a doorway draws attention to event featuring a board game called FinSpan. The banner presents a graceful flying fish surrounded by water droplets.

As the conversation around water quality and aquatic health continues, events like this show how creative outreach can turn passive interest into active care. Whether people came for the cards or the contaminants, they left with a greater appreciation for the delicate balance of life in our rivers.

Because every great river story starts with a ripple—and sometimes, a board game.

Want to Dive Deeper?

Click here to explore NGRREC’s freshwater research or discover how you can get involved in protecting Illinois’ waterways.

Curious about FinSpan? Learn more here.

Jessica Mohlman is the Director of Environmental Education, Wildlife Ecologist at NGRREC. Her research interests lie in creating innovative interdisciplinary ways to address wildlife management and conservation-related concerns. She grew up in northern Illinois and earned her B.S. at Northland College in Ashland, WI and M.S. at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA.