Science on the Fly

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Science on the Fly

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Science on the Fly seeks to further our understanding of changing watersheds around the world through long term, world-class river science.

We are partnering with flyshops and citizen scientists around the world to collect water samples of their rivers.

07/10/2026

Great Blue Heron, fall colors, clean, cold, high alpine water. Perfect fall day in the Rocky Mountains.

19/08/2026

All the places we’re currently sampling in the American West for the Science on the Fly project— over 100 locations! Consistent, long-term monitoring across regions helps us understand long-term climate trends and in doing so, it can be used to help inform policy makers to help protect our rivers.
Map by the map man himself, Greg Fiske Greg Fiske

31/07/2026

How do wild trout survive in an increasingly warm world— or stay resilient in remote desert streams on a 100°F day?
For Dr. Zhongqi Chen, answering that question has been a lifelong pursuit. From watching summer fish kills in his hometown’s aquaculture ponds to studying thermal adaptation in Fraser River sockeye and Columbia River redband trout, Zhongqi has dedicated his career to understanding how fish handle environmental stress.
Now, as our newest Research Scientist and Science Lead for Science on the Fly, he’s bringing his expertise in fish physiology, stream ecology, and data science to our team!
Head to the link in our bio to read the full Q&A and help us welcome Dr. Zhongqi Chen to the Science on the Fly community!
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24/07/2026

Good morning from the river.

16/07/2026

This just in: months worth of data & secrets from the rivers collected by community scientists in Idaho, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Colorado. What stories will they have to tell about their fall, winter, spring and early summer? Were they impacted by the wildfires, agriculture, logging, or development happening around them? Analysis will tell us part of the story, continued monitoring will allow for longterm understanding.

Follow Science on the Fly to learn more about the work we do!

07/07/2026

Our community scientists are the heart of Science on the Fly.

They show up when it matters most—and even on the days when it might not seem urgent—because they understand that long-term monitoring is what reveals the true story of a river.

The impacts of climate change don’t always happen overnight… but sometimes they do. That’s why consistent sampling matters. Every data point helps us better understand how our rivers are changing over time.

Sometimes they’re carrying a fly rod. Always they’re driven by a purpose: to help tell the story of their local river.

Photo: .gidday sampling her local river in Colorado. 📸.gidday

02/07/2026

It’s up to each of us to show up for our rivers. One of the easiest ways to do so is by checking water temperatures throughout the seasons— especially during these hot months. Ideally, aim to make it a habit— checking temps each time you’re out on the river. Each time you get the water temperature, look for other things happening around the river like hatches, fish activity, flows, and more. Know the temperature thresholds for the species in your river and when to hold off fishing for each. The more that you know about your local watershed, the better you can be at standing up for it!
So grab that thermometer and check those water temps often!

Photo: Fishpond thermometers getting checked before heading to Brazil.

24/06/2026

We’ve been working our butts off to analyze our river data collected by our community scientists across the globe. You’re making us exhausted- you’re too good at this community science work you voluntarily signed up for. You all show up for your rivers every dang month. You’re really awesome!

15/04/2026

Our community scientists continue to show up for their rivers and collect their monthly water quality samples. Because they know it’s important. Because they know that science and data matter. Because they know our rivers, communities, and businesses are better for it. Because they care for healthy rivers now and in 100 years from now.

Thanks Andrew () for getting out and sampling in Texas with !

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http://www.scienceonthefly.org/

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