Spotlight Stories

The Prairie Pothole Region

During the month of May, Dr. Imtiaz Rangwala, climate science lead at the NC CASC, visited US Fish and Wildlife partners at refuges in the Prairie Pothole region of the US, participated in a four-square-mile pond survey, and facilitated a workshop on climate scenario planning.

The Tribal Climate Leaders Program

William Crawford is a recent University of Colorado Boulder graduate and fellow of the Tribal Climate Leaders Program (TCLP), run through the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center. His research targeted a significant plant to the Dakota, which once grew in abundance in the Northern Plains.

Ethical Space: Indigenous Engagement for Environmental Science Professionals

Indigenous Peoples are key partners for achieving natural resource management and conservation goals. But first, western science professionals need to understand how to collaborate with Indigenous partners in a spirit of respect and reciprocity.

The Prairie Climate Companion: Wild & Prescribed Fire

The Grasslands Synthesis Project focuses on understanding how climate change and variability impacts grassland ecosystems and their management in the 21st century.

The Prairie Climate Companion: Water Availability

The Grasslands Synthesis Project focuses on understanding how climate change and variability impacts grassland ecosystems and their management in the 21st century. We invite you to check out the next edition of "The Prairie Climate Companion", which focuses on water availability.

The Grasslands Synthesis Project

The Grasslands Synthesis Project focuses on understanding how climate change and variability impacts grassland ecosystems and their management in the 21st century. We invite you to check out the new page: nccasc.colorado.edu/grasslands

Climate Champion: Dr. Aparna Bamzai-Dodson

Dr. Aparna Bamzai-Dodson with the USGS North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center uses social science to tease apart how people make decisions when planning for and adapting to climate change.

Science: The Importance of the Process and Evolving Landscape of Publishing

Dr. Sacha Vignieri, deputy editor for research at Science—one of the world’s premier journals on today’s most cutting edge research—will lead this presentation and discussion. Dr. Vignieri will share insights to the publishing industry, the evolving landscape of peer review, equity and data accessibility.

Publishing in Science: What Makes a Successful Submission?

Dr. Sacha Vignieri is deputy editor for research at Science, one of the world’s premier journals on today’s most cutting edge research. On May 2, she will share insights to the publishing process framed specifically for postdoctoral researchers and scholars.

Climate Champion, Dr. Brian Miller

USGS and NC CASC Research Ecologist, Dr. Brian Miller, uses scenario planning to help managers think about different possible climate conditions, allowing them to be ready for anything the future may bring.

The Grasslands Synthesis Project

Understanding how climate change and variability will impact grassland ecosystems is crucial for successful grasslands management in the future. Towards that goal, the NC CASC began the "Grasslands Synthesis Project" in 2020 to compile baseline information on broadly shared grassland management goals and challenges in the North Central region.

Forest Recovery Following Severe Fires

In a new study that examines the severity of fires in combination with hotter and drier conditions plaguing the Western United States, researchers are “seeing the forest for the trees.” Using information from 334 wildfires and 10,000 field plots, collected by more than 50 research teams, this new study, led by NC CASC affiliate Dr. Kim Davis has uncovered a pattern.

New Summer GRAs Available

Interested in summer GRAs? Then check out the opportunities and apply!

Congratulations to James Rattling Leaf, Sr.!

This Nature Climate Change article, co-authored by NC CASC's James Rattling Leaf, Sr., explores the importance of co-production of knowledge for climate change.

Congratulations to Will Crawford!

Congratulations to Will Crawford who successfully defended his Masters thesis on Monday!

NC CASC Research Reel

The North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center strives to help natural and cultural resource managers use actionable and open data, tools, and innovative science and information to make climate-informed decisions that support resili

2/9/23 Webinar Available Online

Drought, despite being an episodic phenomenon, is capable of triggering persistent changes to ecosystems, with important consequences for both biodiversity and human communities. Learn more from Dr.

Welcome to Dr. Kyra Clark-Wolf!

The NC CASC is happy to welcome postdoctoral associate, Dr. Kyra Clark-Wolf!

The Decline of the Western Bumble Bee

The western bumble bee was once common in western North America, but increasing temperatures, drought, and pesticide use have contributed to a 57% decline in the occurrence of this species in its historical range.

Top Climate News Stories of 2022

USGS Climate highlights their top 5 climate news stories of 2022 on Twitter, choosing our coverage of drought in the Milk and St. Mary river basins as one of them.

Dr. William Travis Quoted in Discovery Magazine

“Adapting to the current climate is not necessarily what you want to do for the future climate,” says William Travis, a geographer at CU Boulder.

Experts: More Diverse Science is Better Science

Congratulations to USGS Deputy Director, Dr. Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, on being quoted in an E&E news article.

Cross-Park Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) Change Project

In a time of climate change, the human element - agency context and rules, as well as emotions and values - influence how resource managers respond to environmental changes. The Cross-Park RAD (resist-accept-direct change) Project aims to increase understanding of how institutional and emotional factors influence manager decision making in the National Park Service in the face of ecological transformation.

Webinar Recording Available

Missed the December 8, 2022 NC CASC webinar?

Welcome to Dr. Jamie Peeler!

Find out more about postdoc fellow, Jamie Peeler, a landscape ecologist dedicated to tackling forest conservation challenges in a more fire-prone world.

Webinar Recording Available Online

If you missed Dr. Jeff Martin's webinar on bison management (November 10, 2022), view the recording here on our YouTube channel.

National Adaptation Forum

Several NC CASC members are presenting (or are being represented) in Baltimore, MD this week (Oct 25 - 27, 2022) at the National Adaptation Forum (NAF).

Rapid Ecological Change & Transformation Across the Middle and Southern Rockies During a Previous Climate Warming

How did rapid ecological change and transformation in the Middle and Southern Rockies unfold during a previous, dramatic climate warming? Answering this question could help resource managers better prepare for such phenomena in the future.

The Lakota Climate Summit

The Lakota Climate Summit is currently being held in Rapid City, South Dakota, from October 18 - 20, 2022.

Collaboratively Producing Climate Information for Managing Natural Resources

Putting science into policy and practice has been a long-standing challenge, especially in the realm of climate change and adaptation to climate change. To better guide future climate science investments, researchers would benefit from an understanding of what information is most relevant to managers.

CASC Early Career Workshop

Members of the NC CASC (Nicole DeCrappeo, Christy Miller Hesed, Jilmarie Stephens, Ulyana Pena, Tony Ciocco, Kynser Wahwahsuck, and Prasad Thota) are attending the Early Career Workshop put on by the NCASC and USGS in Albuquerque, New Me

Indigenous Peoples Day

Tribal Nations are unique partners for us since their connection to the environment is often thousands of years old. We at NC CASC are committed to working with them to create usable and relevant science to build climate resilience.

NC CASC post-doc in ecology

The NC CASC invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scientist in Ecology to perform research activities on the topic of Ecological Impacts and Transformation under Climate Change in the 21st Century.

CFT now available on CRAN

Climate Futures Toolbox - now on CRAN - is a shining example of the type of tool built at Earth Lab. It's an open-source software package that bridges the gap between “big” climate data and meaningful climate insights.

Fast Drought - An Oxymoron?

New research is showing that contrary to past thinking of drought as a slow process taking multiple seasons or years to fully develop, fast-evolving drying events are becoming more common.

Managing Mountain Goats?

Alpine ecosystems can be considered "hard boundaries" where climate change is expected to have disproportionate effects on the species that call it home. Dr.

The Future of International Waterways: The Milk and St. Mary River Basins Case Study

Along the US-Canadian border, international waterways weave a path from the mountains down to the foothills, feeding the Milk and St. Mary river basins, important regions to the Chippewa Cree Indians, Blackfeet, Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes.

Climate Solutions Days 2022

Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education surrounding environmental issues. In recent times, Earth Day has focused on confronting the climate crisis.

NC CASC to Celebrate Earth Week 2022 by Hosting "Climate Solutions Days" Events

Thank you for your interest in Climate Solutions Days. Registration is now closed.

Spotlight: Uncertainty, complexity and constraints, but also growing insights into the future of climate and ecosystems

In an era of rapidly changing climate where temperatures are rising and precipitation is varying, forecasting trajectories of ecological changes is critical for land and resource managers to be able to make timely conservation decisions.

Spotlight: Tribal Climate Adaptation Planning

On October 18 – 21, 2021, participants from the Ute Mountain Ute, Southern Ute and Ute Tribe of Utah came together in a virtual setting to attend the Tri Ute Climate Adaptation Workshop, the first in a series of four climate adaptation w

Spotlight: Interactive and Easy to Use R-Shiny Apps

Dr. Imtiaz Rangwala and graduate research assistant, Prasad Thota at the NC CASC have released eight different interactive and easy to use R-Shiny apps to plot and extract data for both observed and future projections of climate change as it pertains to different drought metrics, extreme dry atmospheric conditions and grassland productivity.

Spotlight: Tools for Building a Resilient Community: US Climate Resilience Toolkit

As climate continues to change and adaptations become a necessity, building resilience is of utmost importance to communities.

Spotlight: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Hosts Climate Change Summit in September

In a first of its kind summit, government leaders from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe led a Climate Change Summit on September 9th and 10th, 2021 in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Spotlight: James Rattling Leaf Sr. Featured in Panels, Presentations, and Discussions on Issues Relating to Tribes and Climate

Throughout fall 2020, NC CASC PI and Consultant to the Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance James Rattling Leaf, Sr. participated in a variety of panels, presentations, and discussions relating to indigenous peoples and climate.

Spotlight: Jennifer Balch makes the media rounds to talk wildfires, smoke & climate change

As large fires blaze across the landscape of the American west, NCCASC University Director Jennifer Balch has been fielding numerous media requests for her expertise in wildfire science.

Spotlight: NC CASC Launches Tribal Climate Leaders Program at CU Boulder

The North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC) is pleased to announce the launch of the Tribal Climate Leaders Program that will support Native American students pursuing a graduate degree at the

Spotlight: NC CASC Webinar Series: Post-fire conifer regeneration in a changing climate

Kimberley Davis and Philip Higuera, University of Montana Thursday, July 9, 2020, 11am MDT

Spotlight: RSS Supplemental Guidance: Integration of Climate Change Scenario Planning into the RSS Process

The NC CASC's Brian Miller and the National Park Service team are excited to announce the publishing of the Resource Stewardship Strategy (RSS) Supplemental Guidance.

Spotlight: NC CASC and Earth Lab release Drought Index Portal

NC CASC and Earth Lab have recently released the Drought Index Portal (DrIP) through the University of Colorado, Boulder. DrIP is a web analytic resource to display, compare, and extract time series for various indicators of drought in the contiguous United States.

Spotlight: Climate Change Scenario Planning for Resource Stewardship: Applying a Novel Approach in Devils Tower National Monument, 2020

This article, reproduced here from the NPS website, showcases a collaboration between the National Park Service, the USGS, the NC CASC, and Devil's Tower National Monument.

Spotlight: Project Examines Emerging Challenges Related to Climate Change, Disease, and Wildlife Health

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, in partnership with the USGS Climate Adaptation Science Center Network, is leading a one-year project to understand and prepare for emerging challenges related to fish and wildlife health, diseas

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