Catch the King is a community science program run by Wetlands Watch, a non-profit based out of Norfolk, VA. Catch the King (CTK) mobilizes volunteers to map the extent of tides and flooding during the fall season “king tides” across most of coastal Virginia. During the king tide, participants use a mobile app to collect location-based data points along the water’s edge at peak high tide.
Data collected by volunteers is used to improve flood forecasting models at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science(VIMS) developed by Dr. Derek Loftis. These models are used by planners, engineers, and local leaders to make informed decisions about how our communities adapt to sea level rise and reduce flooding impacts.
Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate! Connect with Wetlands Watch by filling out the ‘2026 Volunteer Interest From’ on the Catch the King webpage. After completing the form, follow the guided steps for downloading and using the Sea Level Rise phone app, then check out the CTK Toolkit and Events page for upcoming trainings/additional mappings!
