Science on the Fly Brings Community Science to Capitol Hill

This September, Science on the Fly (SOTF) joined colleagues from Woodwell Climate Research Center for their annual Washington, D.C. fly-in. Our team carried a clear message: community-driven science is essential for shaping policy, bridging local actions and national decisions to protect the health of our watersheds.

Science on the Fly delegates on Capital Hill for their second fly-in with Woodwell Climate Research Center. Photo: Eric Lee

For SOTF, meeting with congressional offices and advancing policy efforts is critical because it puts a face to an issue, it builds relationships and it helps shape the conversation around wild fish and healthy rivers—regardless of political leanings or moments of gridlock. We’re in this for the long haul and even when progress feels slow, consistent conversation helps decision-makers understand that sometimes our common ground is on the water.

Since 2019, SOTF volunteers across six countries, 42 states, and hundreds of rivers have collected thousands of water samples to track changes in freshwater ecosystems. On this fly-in, SOTF’s second, our project met the halls of Congress. The SOTF team focused on water-related discussions, including support for bipartisan measures like the Headwaters Protection Act, the Fix Our Forest Act, and soil health research in the upcoming Farm Bill to promote natural climate solutions and climate-smart farming practices, while other Woodwell delegates highlighted work in Climate Risk and Permafrost Pathways. Together, our presence illustrated the wide scope of Woodwell’s research and advocacy, from local river monitoring to global climate impacts. SOTF met with offices including Senator Mike Crapo (ID), Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI), Senator Ed Markey (MA), and Representative Bill Keating (MA-9) to introduce and offer community-generated data as a resource for policymakers developing strategies on water quality, land use, and climate change—helping safeguard rivers today and in a changing climate.

Localized Data From Idaho to Senator Crapo’s Office

During the meeting with Senator Crapo’s office, Science on the Fly brought a new report generated from community collected samples in Idaho. Photo: Eric Lee

This meeting marked our second conversation with Senator Crapo’s office, following our initial 2023 fly-in visit where we introduced Science on the Fly and thanked him for co-sponsoring the Headwaters Protection Act. This time, we brought data in hand. Newly analyzed community science from Idaho’s Silver Creek Preserve, a world-class fly-fishing destination and critical headwaters ecosystem, showed elevated nitrogen levels, underscoring the need for safeguards against development and wastewater impacts that threaten both river health and the downstream recreation economy. This wasn’t just a concern pointed out in the data, but also voiced from the local stewards and residents of the watershed.

Senator Crapo’s team commended SOTF’s model of community science, gathering data locally and connecting it to state and federal policy. We look forward to continuing the relationship and identifying opportunities to collaborate.

Community Scientists’ Concerns with Senator Baldwin’s Office

Our first meeting with Senator Baldwin’s office opened the door to new relationships as we near completion of a report on Wisconsin’s Brule River. Even before the data are finalized, community scientists and river stewards have voiced concerns about the watershed—from increased logging and sedimentation to habitat loss and aquatic invasive species. Many worry that the river has become an afterthought amid regulatory gaps.

Senator Baldwin’s team welcomed the community-driven approach, highlighting the value of connecting local observations to state and federal policy discussions. We also touched on broader priorities, including the Roadless Rule, the EPA Endangerment Finding, and soil research in the Farm Bill. Our goal is to work with all stakeholders to ensure river health and climate science remains a central priority, and we look forward to sharing our updated report— whether it aligns with concerns or not—with all stakeholders in the near future.

Science on the Fly team met with Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office during the Woodwell Climate Research Center fly-in. Photo: Allie Cunningham

Gratitude for Senator Markey and Climate Science

In our meeting with Senator Markey and staff members, we expressed gratitude for the Congressionally directed funding secured in 2024, which allowed SOTF to purchase two new laboratory instruments. These tools have already improved the speed and precision of water quality analysis, allowing the SOTF program to quickly transform sterile samples into river reports and actionable insights for river managers and policymakers.

The discussion also reinforced the importance of protecting the EPA Endangerment Finding, the legal foundation for federal regulation of greenhouse gases. We shared how SOTF’s long-term river dataset complements Woodwell’s broader climate research, showing how local data informs both near-term management and national climate policy. Conversations also touched on the Farm Bill and soil health research as critical supports for sustainable agriculture and clean water.

Science on the Fly delegation with Senator Ed Markey. From left to right: Greg Fiske (Science on the Fly / Woodwell Climate Research Center), Laura Uttley (Woodwell Climate Research Center), Max Holmes (President & CEO, Woodwell Climate Research Center), Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Allie Cunningham (Director, Science on the Fly), and Jainey Bavishi (Board of Directors, Woodwell Climate Research Center). Photo by Eric Lee.

Building Momentum and Looking Ahead

Across all meetings, the focus was on building relationships, not just sharing reports. Where data were available, like Silver Creek, we provided localized evidence of concerns; where reports are forthcoming, like the Brule River, we committed to following up and amplifying SOTF’s community scientists’ voices.

The DC Fly-Ins are only the beginning. The next steps are turning these young conversations into action, ensuring that SOTF’s data continues to inform federal policy while reinforcing that river health is a bipartisan priority. By pairing the passion and voices of anglers with the expertise of scientists and the reach of policymakers, Science on the Fly is proving that the stories of our rivers matter – from Silver Creek to the Brule, from the Arctic to the Atlantic.

This isn’t just fishing – it’s a movement for healthy rivers and a stable climate, led by the people who know these waters best. With every sample collected and every meeting on Capitol Hill, we’re building a stronger case for the rivers that sustain us all.