Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Marshes and their ecosystem services

Learn more!

WGSC contributes to HayWired

Read more...

The GFSAD30 project accomplished their goal!

Learn more

Dryland Management

Read more

Aridland Water Harvesting

Explore Aridlands!

Western Geographic Science Center

Our Western Geographic Science Center (WGSC) priority is to continue the important work of the Department of the Interior and the USGS, while also maintaining the health and safety of our employees and the community.  Based on guidance from the White House, the CDC, and state and local authorities, we are shifting our operations to a virtual mode and have minimal staf

Anne Wein Wins Bay Area Metro Award!

Anne Wein wins award

Congratulations to Dr. Anne Wein, Operations Research Analyst at WGSC, who received a 2019 Bay Area Metro Award for her work as lead researcher for the HayWired earthquake scenario!

Learn more

Remote Sensing and Dryland Management

Photo of an abandoned well pad site

With the use of remote sensing and spatial analysis, WGSC scientists study dryland vegetation and soils to determine disturbances and help manage recovery.

Learn more

Projects and teams at WGSC

Just a few examples of WGSC projects and science teams.

News

link

Planning for Change: New Tools to Support Bird Habitat in the Central Valley

link

Kristin Byrd is the Recipient of the 2022 IALE-NA Distinguished Service Award

link

"Sky Island Restoration Collaboration" (SIRC) at SERNews and new Documentary

View All

Publications

Global food-security-support-analysis data at 30-m resolution (GFSAD30) cropland-extent products—Download Analysis

IntroductionThe global food-security-support-analysis data at 30-meter resolution (GFSAD30) cropland-extent product is a project to provide high-resolution global cropland-extent data relating to water use. It is the first global-land-cover map focusing exclusively on agriculture with a 30-meter spatial resolution. The overarching goal of the GFSAD30 project is to produce consistent and unbiased e
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Climate refugia for Pinus spp. in topographic and bioclimatic environments of the Madrean sky islands of México and the United States

Climate refugia, or places where habitats are expected to remain relatively buffered from regional climate extremes, provide an important focus for science and conservation planning. Within high-priority, multi-jurisdictional landscapes like the Madrean sky islands of the United States and México, efforts to identify and manage climate refugia are hindered by the lack of high-quality and consisten
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Commentary: Dryland watershed restoration with rock detention structures: A nature-based solution to mitigate drought, erosion, flooding, and atmospheric carbon

No abstract available.
By
Western Geographic Science Center
View All

Science

link
Photo of an American Bittern

Recreational Birdwatching and Habitat

Thousands of visitors flock to the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge every year to look for birds both rare and common. Birdwatching activities contribute to economic activity for the Nisqually area and play a role in the broader outdoor-loving culture of the Pacific Northwest.
By
Western Geographic Science Center
link

Recreational Birdwatching and Habitat

Thousands of visitors flock to the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge every year to look for birds both rare and common. Birdwatching activities contribute to economic activity for the Nisqually area and play a role in the broader outdoor-loving culture of the Pacific Northwest.
Learn More
link
Picture of a mature salmon

Fisheries and Fish Habitat

The estuarine habitat of the Delta is critical to the production of salmon, which supports recreational, commercial, and subsistence fishing. The combination of shaded pools, shallow reaches, and a rich prey population provide excellent feeding grounds for juvenile fish. Fishing also holds great importance in the cultural practices of the Nisqually Tribe.
By
Western Geographic Science Center
link

Fisheries and Fish Habitat

The estuarine habitat of the Delta is critical to the production of salmon, which supports recreational, commercial, and subsistence fishing. The combination of shaded pools, shallow reaches, and a rich prey population provide excellent feeding grounds for juvenile fish. Fishing also holds great importance in the cultural practices of the Nisqually Tribe.
Learn More
link
Aerial map of modeling area in the Nisqually River Delta

Marsh Elevation Change and Carbon Sequestration

Tidal marsh vegetation grows in a narrow elevation zone between sea level and the upland behind it. These plant communities have evolved to accumulate sediment over time and maintain their relative elevation with gradual rates of change in sea level. It is uncertain which marsh vegetation communities will be able to accumulate sediment at a rate that keeps pace with accelerated sea level rise.
By
Western Geographic Science Center
link

Marsh Elevation Change and Carbon Sequestration

Tidal marsh vegetation grows in a narrow elevation zone between sea level and the upland behind it. These plant communities have evolved to accumulate sediment over time and maintain their relative elevation with gradual rates of change in sea level. It is uncertain which marsh vegetation communities will be able to accumulate sediment at a rate that keeps pace with accelerated sea level rise.
Learn More
View All