Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Explore North Central CASC Projects
ExploreNorth Central CASC
Scientists in the North Central region are working to understand how sagebrush and invasive grasses will respond to changes in climate, how future lake temperatures will impact fish populations, how shifts in prairie pothole wetlands will impact critical waterfowl habitats, and much more.
Explore North Central CASC Science Projects>>
Consortium
Map of the North Central CASC region and consortium members. Click to enlarge.
- University of Colorado at Boulder (Host)
- University of Montana
- South Dakota State University
- Wildlife Conservation Society
- Conservation Science Partners
- Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance
Past consortium members: 2011-2018: Colorado State University (Host), Colorado School of Mines, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Iowa State University, University of Wyoming, Montana State University, Kansas State University
Key Documents & Reports
- 2011-2018 NC CASC Consortium Final Report
- 2011-2016 Five-Year Review Report (July 2017)
- NC CASC Science Agenda 2012-2017
- 2019 Annual Report
- 2017 Annual Report
- 2015 Annual Report
- 2014 Annual Report
- 2013 Annual Report
- 2012 Annual Report
Learn more on the North Central CASC consortium-led website
<< Learn more about the other regional CASCs
Related Content
Project Spotlight: Tool Developed by the North Central CASC Helps National Parks Plan for Climate Change
The National Park Service Climate Change Response Program helps parks plan for and adapt to climate change, but they are often slowed by challenges wrangling large climate data sets. To solve this problem, the North Central CASC partnered with the National Park Service to create the Climate Futures Toolbox, a user-friendly software program designed to help "take the pain out of climate...
New Framework to Assess How Wildlife Management Activities and Weather Patterns are Driving Contact Rates in Elk
A new publication funded by the North Central CASC examines how human activity and weather are affecting the rate at which elk aggregate and gather, thus influencing wildlife disease transmission patterns.
North Central CASC Affiliated Researchers Awarded Seed Funding for Catalyzing Research and Action Initiative
The Rising Voices program awarded funding to North Central CASC researchers to support Great Plains and Northern Rockies Tribes data needs.
Small-Scale Droughts Limit Sagebrush Recovery After Wildfires
A new study supported by the Southwest, Northwest, and North Central CASCs found that a few days of water scarcity during critical growth periods dramatically limited post-fire sagebrush regeneration across the Great Basin.
North Central and Southwest CASCs Participates in 2020 National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference
Members of the North Central and Southwest CASC attended and facilitated several innovative trainings and working groups at the conference.
North Central CASC University Director Talks Wildfires, Smoke, Climate Change
The North Central CASC University Director and partners serve as a trusted source on wildfire science in the Western U.S.
North Central CASC Welcomes Their First Cohort of Graduate Students to Tribal Climate Leaders Program
Five graduate students have been named to the North Central CASC’s inaugural cohort to the Tribal Climate Leaders Program (TCLP).
Resource Managers Offer Different Approaches to Navigating Climate Change on Public Lands
In a recent study supported by the North Central CASC, researchers found that federal and state land managers in southwestern Colorado support a variety of different approaches for mitigating climate change impacts on public lands.
New Web Tool Compares Drought Indices Across the U.S.
In conjunction with Earth Lab, the North Central CASC has released the web analytic resource Drought Index Portal (DrIP) to compare drought indices across the continental United States.
Snow Collider Workshop Held to Improve Projections of Future Snow in the North Central U.S.
On June 11th, the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) co-hosted Snow Collider, a virtual workshop that brought together the expertise of data scientists and natural resource managers to discuss statistical model projections of future snow in the Rocky Mountains.
New Research Uses Tree Ring Data to Assess Drought Severity in the Missouri River Basin
A newly-published article, partially funded by the North Central CASC and co-authored by Alaska CASC scientists Stephen Gray and Jeremy Littell, examined data collected from tree-rings to reconstruct historic natural streamflows and aid drought management and adaptation planning efforts in the Upper Missouri...
Scientist Spotlight: Brian Miller & Planning for Uncertain Futures in U.S. National Parks
Learn about the work and research of Brian Miller, research ecologist for the U.S. Geological Survey's North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center.
Job Opportunity: NC CASC "National Park Service Research Assistant" Position
The NC CASC is interested in hiring a recent or soon to be Master’s graduate, with expertise and technical skills related to ecological responses to climate, as a student contractor to assist with National Park Service Climate Change Response Program (NPS CCRP) scientific and support activities. He or she will serve as a resource for the NPS CCRP in the development of climate-resource...
North Central CASC Director Robin O’Malley to Retire at Year’s End
Robin O’Malley, Director of the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, will be retiring from federal service at the end of the month after nearly four decades as a public and civil servant.
North Central CASC Receives Funding from the Community for Data Integration (CDI) for New “Climate Scenarios Toolbox”
With support from the USGS Community for Data Integration (CDI), researchers at the North Central CASC will develop and implement an efficient and robust “Climate Scenarios Toolbox” to help on-the-ground management partners access and interpret relevant climate data, assess resource vulnerabilities to climate variability and change, and design adaptation strategies.
North Central CASC Director, Robin O'Malley, Awarded for Lifetime Achievement in Climate Adaptation
Robin O'Malley, Director of the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, was recently honored with the Margaret A. Davidson Award for Adaptation Career Excellence.
New Product Showcases Implications of Climate Scenarios for Badlands National Park Resource Management
Researchers at the North Central CASC, the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, and the National Park Service Climate Change Response Program developed a product to identify potential climate impacts in Badlands National Park.
CASC Presentations at the 2019 NAF Meeting
Are you attending the National Adaptation Forum (NAF) this spring in Wisconsin? Don't miss these presentations from staff and partners from across the CASC network!
Post-fire Sagebrush Recovery Looks to Landsat Time Series Data for Solutions
A new multi-CASC funded project will explore post-fire sagebrush recovery using Landsat data.
CASC Presentations at the 2018 AGU Meeting
Are you attending the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting this year in D.C.? Don't miss these presentations from staff and partners from across the CASC network!
Post-fire Sagebrush Recovery Looks to Landsat Time Series Data for Solutions
When a wildfire rampages through a sagebrush domain, restoring the landscape’s natural vegetation afterward is often a dicey proposition. But now complicate that situation with soil-moisture-robbing drought either before or after the fire. What becomes the best restoration solution then?
CU Boulder to Host Federal Climate Adaptation Science Center
The University of Colorado Boulder has been selected as the new host for the North Central CASC.
News from the Tribal Resilience Liaisons
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, the USGS, and Tribal organizations have collaborated to place Tribal Resilience Liaisons at the regional CASCs. Read on to meet the Liaisons and learn about their recent activities to promote resilient Tribal communities.
Supporting Native and Indigenous Community Climate Adaptation Efforts Across the Country
In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we're exploring the ways in which the CASC network is supporting and partnering with Tribal nations and Indigenous communities to address science needs, build capacity, and inform climate adaptation planning.
10 Things You May Not Know About Drought
Learn about some of our efforts to address the challenges of drought with these 10 examples from across the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center network.
Check out Our Sessions at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting
Check out our CASC-hosted AGU sessions, and consider submitting an abstract!
10 Things You May Not Know About Our Coasts
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New Name, Same Mission
Our program has a new name, but our mission hasn't changed. We are still hard at work delivering science to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate.
10 Things You May Not Know About Fish and Wildlife
Fish and wildlife play crucial roles across ecosystems and in human society. High animal diversity contributes to healthy ecosystems, and many species provide important economic benefits to our communities.
10 Things You May Not Know About Plants and Forests
Spring is here and in many places across the country, trees are beginning to bud, flowers are blossoming, and the world is starting to look a little more colorful. Look a little closer though and you’ll find that many plants are facing challenging times.
10 Things You May Not Know About the CSC Network
2018 marks the 10-year anniversary of the establishment of the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC). Read on to learn 10 things you might not know about NCCWSC and the Climate Science Centers!
EDDI, a New Drought Index, Provides Early Warning of Flash Droughts
A newly-developed NOAA tool - EDDI (Evaporative Demand Drought Index) - could improve our understanding of both flash droughts and longer-term drought.
Now Accepting Applications to Host North Central CSC
This opportunity is now closed. Applications are no longer being accepted to host the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center.
New Tool Is Helping to Predict U.S. Droughts, Global Famine
A powerful new tool can provide farmers and ranchers in the arid Great Plains region with critical, early indications of oncoming drought.
CSC Presentations and More at the 2017 AGU Meeting
Attending the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting this year in New Orleans? Don't miss these presentations from staff and partners from our CSC network!
Now Accepting Applications to Host North Central and Southwest CSCs
This opportunity is now closed. Applications are no longer being accepted to host the North Central and Southwest Climate Science Centers.
Northeast and North Central CSCs Honored for Leadership in Climate Adaptation
The Northeast and North Central CSCs were among a group of organizations and individuals honored yesterday for their outstanding work in helping the nation’s natural resources become more resilient to the impacts of a changing world.
Liaison Teams Help Build Collaboration between LCCs and the North Central Climate Science Center
In order to help connect the landscape-scale conservation activities of the LCC network with its climate science capacity, the North Central CSC has worked with four regional LCCs and its University Consortium to establish liaison teams.
New Soil Moisture Satellite Shows Promise for Drought Monitoring
Droughts are one of the costliest natural disasters and globally affect a large number of people and their livelihoods every year. A new NASA satellite shows the promise of using the satellite’s soil moisture data for drought monitoring.
No Picnic for Our Parks: How Climate Change Could Impact National Parks and the Species they Protect
From retreating glaciers in Alaska to severe drought in the Southwest, climate change is set to dramatically alter our national parks. Here are 10 CSC and NCCWSC projects that provide a snapshot of our work in national parks.
USGS Science at Ecological Society of America’s Conference
U.S. Geological Survey scientists will present their research at the Ecological Society of America meeting from Aug. 7-12, 2016, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The theme is "Novel Ecosystems in the Anthropocene."
How Vulnerable Are National Parks to Climate and Land Use Change?
August 25, 2016 marks the 100 year anniversary of the National Park Service. Here we feature the results of an assessment of the exposure of national parks to climate and land use change published in 2014.
USGS Climate Change and Wildlife Program Receives Award for Leadership in Climate Adaptation
The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center and Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers have been awarded honorable mention for the inaugural Climate Adaptation Leadership Award for Natural Resources for their outstanding work in raising awareness and addressing the impacts of climate change on the nation’s valuable natural resources.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, and USGS Receive 2016 Climate Adaptation Leadership Awards
Colorado demonstrates responsive, action-oriented approach to climate change, gains national attention with award.
Happy Mother’s Day to Moms of All Species
USGS wishes to honor all mothers, of all species. Many of our research findings have and are shedding light on the lives of non-human moms.
Eight Animals Feeling the Heat from Climate Change
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New Report Describes the Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)
EDDI is a drought index that can serve as an indicator of both rapidly evolving “flash” droughts (developing over a few weeks) and sustained droughts (developing over months but lasting up to years).
Researchers Work to Understand Climate Change Impacts to Vegetation in the Northern Rockies
In an attempt to assess vulnerability of tree species and biome types in the Northern Rocky Mountains, partners of the North Central Climate Science Center (NC CSC) are creating models that combine climate data and scale-relevant land management options.
USGS Science at Ecological Society of America’s Conference
BALTIMORE -- This year, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey will present their research at the 100th annual Ecological Society of America (ESA) meeting from Aug. 9-14, 2015, in Baltimore, Maryland. The theme is "Ecological Science at the Frontier: Celebrating ESA’s Centennial." ESA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of scientists founded in 1915 to promote ecological science.
CSCs Participate in Cross-Cultural Collaboration Workshop for Climate Adaptation Solutions
Members of five Climate Science Centers attended and participated in this year’s Rising Voices 3 (RV3) workshop in Boulder, CO in June 2015. The workshop theme was Learning and Doing: Education and Adaptation through Diverse Ways of Knowing.
Secretary Jewell Announces New Wildlife and Climate Studies at the North Central Climate Science Center
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced today that Interior’s North Central Climate Science Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, is awarding nearly $400,000 to universities and other partners.
Interior’s Secretary Jewell Announces New Wildlife and Climate Studies at the North Central Climate Science Center
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced today that Interior's North Central Climate Science Center is awarding slightly more than one million dollars to universities and other partners for research to guide managers of parks, refuges and other cultural and natural resources in planning how to help species and ecosystems adapt to climate change.