diff --git a/docs/source/index.rst b/docs/source/index.rst
index c41aab9..7b65856 100644
--- a/docs/source/index.rst
+++ b/docs/source/index.rst
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ SCIP backend documentation
 
 This backend serves data about predefined regions and the locations and details of salmon population to the Salmon Climate Impacts Portal (SCIP).
 
+It accepts parameters either as GET or POST requests. Clients should send GET requests when possible, to facilitate caching and fast return of their queries. However, there are cases where the 'overlap' parameter, a WKT string describing the extent of a region the client wishes information about, is so long it will not fit into a standard 4096 character URL. In those cases, the client may send a POST request with parameters in JSON format in the body.
+
 .. toctree::
    :maxdepth: 2
    :caption: Contents:
diff --git a/scip/api/__init__.py b/scip/api/__init__.py
index f2e617c..23109e8 100644
--- a/scip/api/__init__.py
+++ b/scip/api/__init__.py
@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@ def call(session, request_type):
     except KeyError:
         return Response("Endpoint {} not recognized".format(request_type), status=400)
 
-    # check for required arguments
+    # check for required arguments - using request.values checkes
+    # both parameters in URL strings and parameters in JSON-style request
+    # bodies.
     required_params = set(get_required_args(func)).difference(["session"])
 
-    provided_params = set(request.args.keys())
+    provided_params = set(request.values.keys())
     optional_params = set(get_keyword_args(func))
 
     missing_params = required_params.difference(provided_params)
@@ -31,11 +33,11 @@ def call(session, request_type):
             "Missing query parameters: {}".format(missing_params), status=400
         )
 
-    args = {key: request.args.get(key) for key in required_params}
+    args = {key: request.values.get(key) for key in required_params}
     kwargs = {
-        key: request.args.get(key)
+        key: request.values.get(key)
         for key in optional_params
-        if request.args.get(key) is not None
+        if request.values.get(key) is not None
     }
 
     args.update(kwargs)
diff --git a/scip/routes.py b/scip/routes.py
index 10d3cfe..9ccdeb8 100644
--- a/scip/routes.py
+++ b/scip/routes.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 def add_routes(app):
     db = SQLAlchemy(app)
 
-    @app.route("/api/<request_type>")
+    @app.route("/api/<request_type>", methods=["GET", "POST"])
     def api_request(*args, **kwargs):
         return api.call(db.session, *args, **kwargs)