Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Fort Collins Science Center

Welcome to the Fort Collins Science Center (FORT) located in Fort Collins, Colorado, just east of the Rocky Mountains. At FORT we develop and disseminate research-based information and tools needed to understand the nation’s biological resources in support of effective decision making.

News

FORT Updates: From Plains to Peaks - Vol. 2 | Issue 8

New USGS report describes potential uses of remote sensing for monitoring mine lands and mine land recovery

New USGS report describes potential uses of remote sensing for monitoring mine lands and mine land recovery

New USGS data-driven tools can aid restoration of mine lands across America

New USGS data-driven tools can aid restoration of mine lands across America

Publications

Remote sensing for monitoring mine lands and recovery efforts

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Ecosystem Restoration Program, the U.S. Department of the Interior has invested in assessing and recovering degraded ecosystems to promote healthy human communities and wildlife habitats. One priority established by the program is the need to address degraded ecosystems associated with mine lands, including active, inactive, and abandoned mines. Mine lands o
Authors
Michael S. O'Donnell, Ashley L. Whipple, Richard D. Inman, Bryan C. Tarbox, Adrian P. Monroe, Benjamin S. Robb, Cameron L. Aldridge

Design, development, and implementation of IsoBank: A centralized repository for isotopic data

Stable isotope data have made pivotal contributions to nearly every discipline of the physical and natural sciences. As the generation and application of stable isotope data continues to grow exponentially, so does the need for a unifying data repository to improve accessibility and promote collaborative engagement. This paper provides an overview of the design, development, and implementation of
Authors
Oliver N. Shipley, Anna J. Dabrowski, Gabriel J. Bowen, Brian Hayden, Jonathan N. Pauli, Christopher Jordan, Lesleigh Anderson, Adriana Bailey, Clement P. Bataille, Carla Cicero, Hilary G. Close, Craig Cook, Joseph A. Cook, Ankur R. Desai, Jaivime Evaristo, Tim R. Filley, Christine A.M. France, Sora Lee Kim, Sebastian H. Kopf, Julie Loisel, Philip J. Manlick, Jamie M. McFarlin, Bailey C. McMeans, Tamsin C. O'Connel, Brice X. Semmens, Chris Stantis, Paul Szejner, Suzanne E. Pilaar Birch, Annie L. Putman, Craig A. Stricker, Tara L.E. Trammell, Mark D. Uhen, Samantha Weintraub-Leff, Matthew J. Wooller, John W. Williams, Christopher T. Yarnes, Hanna B. Vander Zanden, Seth D. Newsome

Modelling effects of flow withdrawal scenarios on riverine and riparian features of the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument

The National Park Service (NPS) is charged with maintaining natural riverine resources and processes in its parks along the Yampa River and downstream along the Green River. This mission requires information on how proposed water withdrawals would affect resources. We present a methodology that quantifies the impact on natural riverine and riparian features of Dinosaur National Monument based on a
Authors
Rebecca Diehl, J. M. Friedman

Science

Invasive Burmese Pythons in Southern Florida

Invasive species represent a significant threat to global biodiversity and a substantial economic burden to surrounding communities. In the last 40 years, the Burmese python ( Python bivittatus ) has invaded southern Florida, including Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and other protected lands.
link

Invasive Burmese Pythons in Southern Florida

Invasive species represent a significant threat to global biodiversity and a substantial economic burden to surrounding communities. In the last 40 years, the Burmese python ( Python bivittatus ) has invaded southern Florida, including Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and other protected lands.
Learn More

Developing habitat models for rare plants to inform decision making on multiple-use public lands

Public lands provide important habitat for many rare plants. However, public lands often need to accommodate many other uses, including traditional and renewable energy development, in addition to conservation. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to coproduce ensemble habitat suitability models that can inform agency planning and permitting decisions that may impact rare plants.
link

Developing habitat models for rare plants to inform decision making on multiple-use public lands

Public lands provide important habitat for many rare plants. However, public lands often need to accommodate many other uses, including traditional and renewable energy development, in addition to conservation. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to coproduce ensemble habitat suitability models that can inform agency planning and permitting decisions that may impact rare plants.
Learn More

Gunnison Sage-grouse Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)

In partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners, scientists from USGS Fort Collins Science Center are working to create a suite of prioritization scenarios that will inform adaptive management for Gunnison sage-grouse.
link

Gunnison Sage-grouse Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)

In partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners, scientists from USGS Fort Collins Science Center are working to create a suite of prioritization scenarios that will inform adaptive management for Gunnison sage-grouse.
Learn More

Multimedia

Microscopic view of tree rings, with a scale bar of 0.5 mm
Tree rings
Tree rings
shallow water come up against a rocky sloped shoreline dotted with green shrubs
Shore of Lake Abert, Oregon
Shore of Lake Abert, Oregon
seven people wearing safety gear stand in front of a large field, with a road in the background.
Site of Future I-25 Wildlife Overpass
Site of Future I-25 Wildlife Overpass
A group of people in safety gear walk a dirt road next to a fence.
I25 Wildlife Fence
I25 Wildlife Fence
People wearing safety vests walk through a field toward a highway underpass
USGS researchers and collaborators visit a newly completed wildlife underpass
USGS researchers and collaborators visit a newly completed wildlife underpass
two people stand under a large highway underpass
USGS researchers visit a newly completed wildlife underpass
USGS researchers visit a newly completed wildlife underpass
gloved fingers holding a small centrifuge tub containing white matter (DNA) in liquid
Sage-grouse DNA
Sage-grouse DNA
marshy wetland with mountains in the background
Goose Lake, Oregon-California
Goose Lake, Oregon-California
a hovercraft sits atop a mudflat with mountains in the background
A hovercraft glides over the surface of Summer Lake, Oregon
A hovercraft glides over the surface of Summer Lake, Oregon
Was this page helpful?