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Streamflow in the Colorado River is heavily influenced by high-elevation snowpack. Warming temperatures in spring can reduce snow-fed flows, with serious implications for the water supplies that support communities and wildlife. While it is already well-known that precipitation has a significant influence on river flow, recent observations suggest that temperature and the amount of water in soil may also influence streamflow. In the face of a changing climate, it is important that resource managers understand how factors such as changing temperatures and precipitation will affect this vital water source. To address this need, researchers are examining records of streamflow, temperature, soil moisture, and precipitation...
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This release contains borehole geophysical electrical log data (elogs), total dissolved solids sample data (TDS), and geostatistical program files used to estimate the salinity distribution in groundwater above and in the vicinity of the Montebello Oil Field, located near Los Angeles, California, USA. Original data are drawn from a variety of publicly available sources and are combined here for use in geostatistical simulation and estimation. The extent of the estimation area is a 3-mile buffer zone surrounding the Montebello Oil Field administrative boundary, and the subsurface aquifer region lying above locally mapped oil-bearing units. The data compilation and analysis were done as part of the California State...
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Berry-producing plants, a key resource in Alaska Native communities, provide primary subsistence and have been integral to maintaining cultural cohesion, sense of place, and physical ties to the surrounding landscape. Despite the importance of berry-producing plants, relatively little is known about their vulnerability to changes in climate and environmental conditions. The dynamics of insect populations are strongly related to climate; however, very little is known about the insect pollinators of berry plants in Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems. This interaction between plants and pollinators is critical to plant communities and for providing fruit resources to Indigenous communities. Numerous plant species...
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Moose are an economically and culturally important species in Minnesota. Like many species, however, moose are experiencing reductions in distribution and abundance across the Midwest as a result of climate change and habitat loss. Moose populations have declined by 60% since 2006, in part because of thermal heat stress in warming summers and increased frequency of contact with white-tailed deer that transmit fatal parasites. Forest managers are looking for actionable strategies to improve moose habitat in the near-term while also planning for future forest conditions in a warming climate. To address this need, this project brings together researchers and managers to examine how climate adaptive forest management...
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As the climate continues to change, vulnerable wildlife species will need specific management strategies to help them adapt to these changes. One specific management strategy is based on the idea that some locations that species inhabit today will remain suitable over time and should be protected. The climate conditions at those locations will continue to be good enough for species to survive and breed successfully and are referred to as climate refugia. Another management strategy is based on the idea that species will need to shift across the landscape to track suitable conditions and reach climate refugia locations as climate and land uses change over time. The more opportunities we can give species to safely...
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The Situk River is among the most productive resource in Alaska, with nine native fish species and 10 times the density of juvenile coho salmon than any other Southeast Alaskan watershed. The associated fisheries in the Situk River and its adjoining estuary drive a $2 million economy for the community of Yakutat (population 600), with 89 percent of the households harvesting salmon for subsistence purposes. The Yakutat foreland area that encompasses the Situk River watershed is a vast landscape of low gradient drainages with forested mosaics of side channels and pools that are responsible for up to 80 percent of coho salmon production. These highly productive aquatic habitats are sensitive to even small shifts in...
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Coregonines are a sub-family of freshwater fishes within the well-known Salmonidae family. In the upper midwestern U.S., these fishes have provided a key food source to Native Americans for millennia and immigrants for the last several centuries. Since the mid-20th century, however, their diversity and abundance has declined owing to several anthropogenic stressors including overfishing, declining quality of key habitat (e.g., dams, eutrophication), and negative interactions with invasive species. Managers of inland lakes in Minnesota and of the Great Lakes in Michigan, Ontario, and New York, and several U.S. Tribes have undertaken various efforts to restore coregonines, including cisco (Coregonus artedi). For example,...
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Climate change represents one of the foremost drivers of ecological change, yet its documented impacts on biodiversity remain uncertain and complex. Although there have been many published studies on species shifting their geographic ranges in response to climate change, it is still challenging to identify the specific mechanisms and conditions that facilitate range shifts in some species and not in others. In addition, it can be difficult to disentangle climate-induced range shifts from other environmental changes which can also result in range shifts (such as changes to land use or habitat). This project attempts to address these knowledge gaps by conducting a systematic literature review of documented cases of...
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The southeast United States has many lakes, streams and reservoirs that serve as important drinking water sources, recreational, agricultural, and ecological uses. Unfortunately, harmful algal blooms are becoming more common in these waters, causing health issues for humans and animals. While it is clear that nutrients stimulate algae growth, it isn’t clear if there are other parameters that stimulate the development of harmful algal blooms. The scientific literature describes additional parameters that may affect algae growth, such as storm occurrence, temperature, dissolved metals, erosion of soils, length of growing season, and hydroperiod.This project will address these different parameters and examine how climate...
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Every 10 years, state fish and wildlife management agencies must comprehensively review, and if necessary revise, their State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs). These are important planning documents that serve as blueprints for conserving fish, wildlife, and their habitat, and for preventing species listings in each state. These plans focus on species that have been identified as being of greatest conservation need, but also address the full array of wildlife and wildlife-related issues in a state. States last reviewed and revised their SWAPs in 2015, and will do so again in 2025. In 2016-2017, the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (NEAFWA) synthesized the 14 SWAP reports from the Northeast region....
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Pinyon-juniper woodlands are important ecosystems in the western U.S. that provide numerous critical environmental, economic, and cultural benefits. For example, pinyon pines are a significant cultural resource for multiple Native American Tribes and provide necessary habitat for plants and wildlife (including at risk species, such as the pinyon-jay). Despite their importance, stress put on pinyon-juniper woodlands by wildfires and other interacting effects of climate change are causing major population declines of these woodland trees. Such changes to pinyon-juniper woodlands lead to uncertainty for land managers on best practices for protecting these ecosystems from stand replacing fire (where most or all of...
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Yellow perch and alewife are ecologically, economically, and culturally important fish species in Lake Michigan whose populations support recreational and commercial fisheries. However, both of these species’ populations have been in decline for over 20 years. This project seeks to understand the factors affecting variability in offspring survival of yellow perch and alewife in Lake Michigan in order to project survival under scenarios of future climate change. Like other fish species, yellow perch and alewives produce huge numbers of small offspring, but most die early in life. Small changes in survival at this early stage can have a strong impact on the number of fish that ultimately contribute to fisheries....
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Field data for vertical profiles of light and water quality parameters were collected biweekly between May and November in 2019 and June and October in 2020 in association with continuous monitoring platforms in Owasco, Seneca, and Skaneateles Lakes, Finger Lakes Region, New York. Water quality profiles were collected using Yellow Spring Instruments (YSI) EXO2 sondes and light profiles were collected using a LI-COR Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) sensor in 2019 and Onset HOBO Pendant Temperature and Light data loggers in 2020. This data release includes all measured environmental parameters included in the analysis. This data release was produced in compliance with the open data requirements as a way...
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Coastal flooding and erosion are increasingly threatening infrastructure and public safety in Alaska Native communities. While many scientists and projects are attentive to the problem, there are still a limited number of tools that assess vulnerability to coastal flood hazards. Few of the available tools use modeling approaches that can be customized to specific community information needs in a manner that easily supports local adaptation planning. The Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS), however, is a dynamic modeling approach developed by the USGS in collaboration with state and federal agencies to achieve detailed scenario projections of coastal flooding caused by coastal storm events and sea-level rise....
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Snow avalanches have a wide variety of effects on mountain environments, with both beneficial and harmful outcomes for wildlife. Avalanches can benefit wildlife by creating open chutes in which to graze but can also be a direct source of mortality when animals are buried by avalanche debris. Mountain goats, which inhabit rugged and steep terrain, are at an increased risk of exposure to avalanches. However, the actual impacts of avalanches on mountain goat mortality remain unknown. The goal of this project is to understand how avalanches impact mountain goat habitat and mortality in the Coast Mountains of southeast Alaska. The research team will use long-term data collected from 434 mountain goats outfitted with...
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Led by universities of the South Central CASC, this project builds on the successes of three prior workshops to mentor a cohort of early-career environmental professionals in the South Central U.S. to serve as part of the next generation of USGS leaders and partners. The workshop objectives are to: (1) develop the participants’ knowledge, leadership skills, and interdisciplinary collaboration with an eye toward filling future USGS (or partner organization) positions; (2) introduce participants to the goals, structure, and unique research-related challenges of the South Central CASC and the larger CASC network; (3) guide participants to discuss their research beyond their disciplinary niche and with managers across...
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Metadata Wizard THIS VERSION OF THE TOOL HAS BEEN REPLACED BY AN UPDATED VERSION Users should obtain the new version of the Metadata Wizard at the links below: The user manual is available here: https://usgs.github.io/fort-pymdwizard/index.html Software installer can be downloaded here: https://github.com/usgs/fort-pymdwizard/releases This tool will eventually replace the Metadata Wizard hosted from this page to eliminate dependencies on ESRI ArcDesktop and to enable Mac users to utilize the Metadata Wizard. Documentation and Previous Release Notes for the Legacy Publication and Product are Below ------------------------------ Metadata Wizard version: 1.8.5 (Last updated: 1/21/20) To download this toolbox...
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Cyanobacteria blooms are one of the most significant management challenges in the Great Lakes today. Recurring blooms of varying toxicity are commonly observed in four of the Great Lakes, and the fifth, Lake Superior, has experienced intermittent nearshore blooms since 2012. The recent advent of cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Superior is disconcerting, given the highly valued, pristine water quality of the large lake. It is possible that the ecological state of Lake Superior is shifting and that we are witnessing the beginnings of larger and longer lasting bloom events. As a public resource, the coastal water quality of Lake Superior has tremendous economic, public health, and environmental value, and therefore,...
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Future climate conditions may dramatically impact many of the natural resources, cultural resources, and ecosystem services on which society depends. To ensure the long-term sustainability of these resources, decision-makers across many domains (e.g. federal, state, NGO, Tribal) commonly consider climate forecasts in their strategic planning efforts. In the South Central United States, future climate conditions are routinely considered in plans for water sustainability, agricultural production, the design of new infrastructure, urban heat impacts, and decisions to federally list a species as threatened or endangered. Scientists have developed sophisticated projections of future climate conditions and their impacts...
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Climate change is impacting the land and resources that Alaska Native peoples rely on for food security, resource management, and cultural continuity. In Southeast Alaska, communities face increased weather variability due to climate change, which impacts subsistence food resources in streams and coastal ocean waters. Alaska Native communities are asking for co-production models of scientific research that involve authentic partnerships and provide direct and tangible solutions to pressing climate adaptation challenges. Co-production of knowledge is broadly recognized as a valuable approach to climate research, but there is a lack of information about how to successfully implement and evaluate the co-production...
    map background search result map search result map Examining the Influence of Temperature and Precipitation on Colorado River Water Resources: Reconstructing the Past to Understand the Future Assessing Climate Change Threats and Adaptation Strategies in Northeast State Wildlife Action Plans Understanding Species' Range Shifts in Response to Climate Change: Results from a Systematic National Review Regional Graduate Student, Post-Doc, and Early Career Researcher Training IV Determining Successful Management and Restoration Strategies for Pinyon-Juniper Communities in the Face of Changing Climate and Wildfire Understanding and Forecasting Potential Recruitment of Lake Michigan Fishes Can Climate Change Mitigation Through Forest Management Save the Moose in Minnesota? Climate, Storms, and the Drivers of Cyanobacteria Blooms in Lake Superior Vertical Profiles of Water Quality and Light in Owasco, Seneca, and Skaneateles Lakes, Finger Lakes Region, New York, 2019-2020 Data used to estimate groundwater salinity above the Montebello Oil Field (California, USA) Evaluating How Changing Climate and Water Clarity Can Affect Restoration of Native Coregonine Fish in Midwestern Lakes Data Management Plan for Ecosystem-based Regional Connectivity to Inform Climate Refugia Networks Clarifying Science Needs for Determining the Impact of Climate Change on Harmful Algal Blooms in Southeastern United States Building a Coastal Flood Hazard Assessment and Adaptation Strategy with At-Risk Communities of Alaska Enhancing Climate Adaptation for Native Communities in Western Alaska: Linking Pollinator Diversity and Abundance to Berry Production in a Rapidly Changing Environment Community engagement in a stream-network assessment of salmon thermal-habitat in the Situk River watershed of Yakutat, Alaska Co-producing climate research and adaptation through partnerships with Alaska Native communities Exploring how stakeholders use, understand, and feel about climate science products Evaluating how snow avalanches impact mountain goat populations in southeast Alaska Data used to estimate groundwater salinity above the Montebello Oil Field (California, USA) Vertical Profiles of Water Quality and Light in Owasco, Seneca, and Skaneateles Lakes, Finger Lakes Region, New York, 2019-2020 Climate, Storms, and the Drivers of Cyanobacteria Blooms in Lake Superior Community engagement in a stream-network assessment of salmon thermal-habitat in the Situk River watershed of Yakutat, Alaska Determining Successful Management and Restoration Strategies for Pinyon-Juniper Communities in the Face of Changing Climate and Wildfire Can Climate Change Mitigation Through Forest Management Save the Moose in Minnesota? Examining the Influence of Temperature and Precipitation on Colorado River Water Resources: Reconstructing the Past to Understand the Future Co-producing climate research and adaptation through partnerships with Alaska Native communities Evaluating how snow avalanches impact mountain goat populations in southeast Alaska Understanding and Forecasting Potential Recruitment of Lake Michigan Fishes Assessing Climate Change Threats and Adaptation Strategies in Northeast State Wildlife Action Plans Data Management Plan for Ecosystem-based Regional Connectivity to Inform Climate Refugia Networks Regional Graduate Student, Post-Doc, and Early Career Researcher Training IV Exploring how stakeholders use, understand, and feel about climate science products Evaluating How Changing Climate and Water Clarity Can Affect Restoration of Native Coregonine Fish in Midwestern Lakes Clarifying Science Needs for Determining the Impact of Climate Change on Harmful Algal Blooms in Southeastern United States Building a Coastal Flood Hazard Assessment and Adaptation Strategy with At-Risk Communities of Alaska Enhancing Climate Adaptation for Native Communities in Western Alaska: Linking Pollinator Diversity and Abundance to Berry Production in a Rapidly Changing Environment Understanding Species' Range Shifts in Response to Climate Change: Results from a Systematic National Review