Catch the King 2025 Results: Dedicated Volunteers Demonstrate Community Stewardship
Wetlands Watch is proud to announce that this year's Catch the King (CTK) was not only an incredible success, but unlike any other. Between October 6th and 12th, we had 167 volunteer scientists collect more than 27,000 high-water marks throughout coastal Virginia using the Sea Level Rise app. With a nearly 20% increase in high-water data points from 2024 and participation from every CTK region, this also marked the most data collected since 2020.
Virginia Beach alone logged almost 7,000 data points thanks to 35 volunteers, including top mapper Brenda Street with 2,454 pins dropped! Norfolk followed second, and the Middle Peninsula took third as they have greatly expanded in both participants and data. Notably, Williamsburg/James City County more than doubled in the number of data points from last year! In addition to mapping floodwaters, 66 volunteers “Measured the Muck” While Catching the King with Old Dominion University to help better understand the loads of nutrients, bacteria, and “forever chemicals” (PFAS) being introduced into local waterways during tidal flooding. This resulted in 326 samples collected in Norfolk and Portsmouth and 96 samples collected in the Gloucester County, York County, Poquoson areas.
The weekend ended on a high - with community members contributing data and learning together but also with even higher water levels. On Sunday, October 12th, tidal flooding was exaggerated as the impacts of nor’easter winds were evident.
These numbers highlight that Catch the King has fostered active community stewardship and dedicated volunteers. Tide mappers diligently document this “sunny day” flooding due to King tides over the span of many days, tracking changes and noting impacts. Volunteer enthusiasm and interest results in high quality, credible flooding data that helps improve community resilience and informs local decision making.
Wetlands Watch continues to share data collected by volunteers with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to help validate flood prediction and sea level rise modeling. View the 2025 data on the VIMS website here. Every pin dropped in the Sea Level Rise app strengthens our collective ability to predict and plan for the “normal” floods of tomorrow, which king tides give us a glimpse into.
We want to thank many of the groups and partners that contributed to making this year such a success!
Catch the King 2025 would not have been possible without the generosity of its supporters and sponsors, including the Environmental Defense Fund, Hampton Roads Sanitation District, and the Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Association. Wetlands Watch extends its heartfelt thanks to every volunteer who contributed to this year’s record-holding data collection—and invites the entire community to join us again for Catch the King next year! Wetlands Watch encourages anyone interested in future training events and volunteer opportunities to sign up for its Catch the King Newsletter and join the “Help Catch the King Tide!” Facebook group.
Lastly, Wetlands Watch’s second annual arts contest, the “Tides of Tomorrow: Jane Brinkley Thumm Memorial Arts Contest” is now open for submissions! High school artists from across Virginia are invited to submit visual or performative art to explore the profound impact of climate change, sea level rise, and flooding through creative expression. Cash prizes for juror-reviewed “Best in Show” submissions will be awarded, with a deadline for submissions on February 1st, 2026. Please reach out to catchtheking@wetlandswatch.org with any questions.