Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Northwest CASC
Northwest CASC researchers are working throughout the region to study how coldwater fish will fare in warmer temperatures, how wildfire patterns might change in Pacific Northwest forests in the future, where areas of "refugia" are located that remain relatively unchanged compared to the surrounding landscape, and much more.
Map of the Northwest CASC region and consortium members. Click to enlarge.
Consortium
- University of Washington (Host)
- Boise State University
- University of Montana
- Washington State University
- Western Washington University
Past consortium members: 2010-2017: Oregon State University (Host), University of Idaho
Key Documents & Reports
- Science Agenda 2018-2023
- NW CASC Five-Year Review Report (February 2017)
- Strategic Plan 2012-2016
- Science Agenda 2012-2016
- FY16 Annual Report
- FY15 Annual Report
- FY14 Annual Report
- FY13 Annual Report
- FY12 Annual Report
- FY11 Annual Report
- Story Map: NW CASC Projects and Data Storefront
Learn more on the Northwest CASC consortium-led website
<< Learn more about the other regional CASCs
Related Content
Northwest CASC Welcomes USGS CASC Director Nicole DeCrappeo!
The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) is thrilled to welcome Nicole DeCrappeo as their U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) CASC Director!
Study: Low-intensity Fires Way Down in Northwest's Dry Forests
New research funded in part by the Northwest CASC shows a link between fewer low-intensity fires in Pacific Northwest forests and the region’s worsening fire seasons.
How Tribes Are Harnessing Cutting-Edge Data to Plan for Climate Change
Climate change is already damaging Indigenous ways of life. But tribes are adapting.
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!
New Research Examines Possible Refugia from Drought and Insects in the Northwest
Northwest forests are plagued by drought and insects. However, refugia from these stresses were discovered in Oregon and new NCASC funded research discusses how these locations resist such disturbances.
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.
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?
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!
New Resources Support Tribes in Preparing for Climate Change
Native tribes maintain culturally significant traditions and livelihoods through the natural environment. Many are interested in protecting their increasingly limited resources through climate change planning. A new online tool has been created to help.
Building Relations with Northwest Tribal Nations: The Role of Chas Jones, Tribal Liaison
The Northwest CASC Tribal Liaison is Chas Jones, employed by the Associated Tribes of Northwest Indians through a BIA-funded program. He utilizes knowledge of Northwest tribal cultures to aid tribal resiliency to changing climate and landscape conditions.
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.
The Power Paddle to Puyallup: From the Perspective of a CASC Tribal Liaison
Chas Jones, Tribal Liaison at the Northwest CASC, reflects on his experience at a Tribal canoe journey and the importance of traditional knowledge.
“Indian Time”: Characterizing Tribal Understandings of Time and Seasonality in the Context of Climate Change
A new paper characterizes tribal understandings of time and seasonality in the context of climate change in the Northwest and Great Basin regions.
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
Scientists with the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) are actively working to understand and monitor climate change impacts on our coasts. Learn more with these 10 examples.
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.
Available Science Assessment Process: Sea Level Rise in the Pacific Northwest
The Northwest CASC, EcoAdapt and Oregon State University recently partnered to assess the available science on climate adaptation actions that are commonly used in response to sea level rise by resource managers in Oregon and Washington.
New Guide for Monitoring Stream Temperature
A new USGS publication: Monitoring Stream Temperatures- A Guide for Non-Specialists. This guide was developed to address the need for a protocol intended for non-specialists (non-aquatic) staff.
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!
New USGS-Led Study Could Help Pacific Wetlands Adapt to Sea Level Rise
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, Calif. — A new study published Wednesday in Science Advances introduces an innovative tool to help resource managers preserve Pacific coastal wetlands from rising sea levels.
Complex, Old-Growth Forests May Protect Some Bird Species in a Warming Climate
Old forests that contain large trees and a diversity of tree sizes and species may offer refuge to some types of birds facing threats in a warming climate, scientists have found.
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!
Host and Consortium Partners Selected for the Alaska, Northwest, and Southeast Climate Science Centers
Following an open competition and extensive review by scientific experts, host institutions and consortium partners have been selected for the Alaska, Northwest, and Southeast Climate Science Centers.
Drought, Wildfire Leave Native Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in Hot Water
Drought and wildfire dramatically reduce suitable habitat for the federally threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout, according to an upcoming publication from USGS scientists and partners.
Water is Life for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
For the Swinomish people of northwestern Washington, water is life. But this symbiotic relationship between man and nature has been disrupted, and increasingly threatened, by sea-level rise and changes in Northwestern storm and rainfall patterns.
Water is Life for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
For the Swinomish people of northwestern Washington, water is life. But this symbiotic relationship between man and nature has been disrupted, and increasingly threatened, by sea-level rise and changes in Northwestern storm and rainfall patterns.
The Future for Many Species is all About Connections
To help maintain, strengthen, and increase connectivity between landscapes for conserving wildlife, scientists across the country are actively working to ensure that managers and planners have sound scientific research upon which to base their decisions.
Applications Being Accepted to Host Climate Science Centers in the Northwest and Southeast
This opportunity is now closed. Applications are no longer being accepted to host the Northwest and Southeast Climate Science Centers.
Climate Has Led to Beetle Outbreaks in Iconic Whitebark Pine Trees
Temperature increases caused by climate change were a major factor driving the outbreak of mountain pine beetles that killed whitebark pine across millions of acres in and around Yellowstone National Park in the early 2000s, according to a new study.
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.
Old Growth May Help Protect Northwest Birds from Warming Temperatures
Researchers are working to understand how to lessen the impacts of climate change on birds and other forest inhabitants.
New Statistically Downscaled Climate Data Available for the Conterminous U.S.
A new statistically downscaled climate model dataset covering the conterminous U.S. is now available for download in the USGS GeoData Portal.
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.
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.
Applications Being Accepted to Host Climate Science Centers in Alaska, the Northwest, Southeast, and Midwest
This opportunity is now closed. Applications are no longer being accepted to host the Alaska, Northwest, Southeast, and (proposed) Midwest Climate Science Centers.
Eight Animals Feeling the Heat from Climate Change
From forest to grassland, desert to ocean, many wildlife species are already “feeling the heat” from climate change. Here are eight animals that provide a glimpse into how climate change is impacting wildlife across the country.
New Technique Tracks ‘Heartbeat’ of Hundreds of Wetlands in Eastern Washington
Researchers from the Northwest Climate Science Center use a new Landsat satellite-based monitoring technique to identify historic changes to wetlands and project how they might change in the future due to climate change.
Climate Camps Expose Scientists and Resource Managers to the Power of Working Together to Address Climate Change
Each summer the Northwest Climate Science Center hosts a weeklong Climate Boot Camp. The Boot Camp invites early career climate professionals from the Northwest and across the country get together to expand their knowledge and skills.
What Climate Change Means for North America’s Most Widespread Tree
Aspen groves serve as important ecological hotspots in the Rocky Mountains. Scientists affiliated with the Northwest Climate Science Center are studying how projected climate change impacts like increased drought and fire will affect these trees.
What Climate Change Means for North America’s Most Widespread Tree
Alder, aspen, birch, elm, maple and oak are some of the most popular trees in North America. But it might come as a surprise that aspen, with their iconic white bark and beautiful autumn colors, have the largest range of any tree on the continent – one that extends from Alaska to Mexico and Vancouver to Maine, including almost every elevation in between.
New Vegetation Models Serve as "Story-telling Tools" to Help Protect Habitat for Spotted Owls and Sage Grouse
Researchers are working to incorporate information from global climate models, process-based models, specific vegetation models and human activities to look at the interactive effects of climate and management.
Wildfires May Double Erosion Across a Quarter of Western US Watersheds by 2050
In recent years, wildfires have burned trees and homes to the ground across many states in the western U.S., but the ground itself has not gotten away unscathed.
First-Ever National Climate Boot Camp to Address Tribal Needs and Concerns Related to Climate Change
Climate change has a direct and evident impact on Native American tribal communities by disrupting local economies and traditional cultures. Members of tribes from across the United States will convene at the University of Idaho’s McCall Field Campus in June 2016 for the first-ever National Tribal Climate Boot Camp.
Study Shows Sea Level Rise to Threaten West Coast Tidal Wetlands Over the Next 100 Years
The U.S. Geological Survey and Oregon State University released a report this week examining Pacific Northwest tidal wetland vulnerability to sea level rise. Scientists found that, while vulnerability varies from marsh to marsh, most wetlands would likely be resilient to rising sea levels over the next 50-70 years.
Secretary Jewell Announces New Wildlife and Climate Studies at the Northwest Climate Science Center
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced today that Interior’s Northwest Climate Science Center is awarding 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.
Climate Change Accelerates Hybridization between Native and Invasive Species of Trout
Scientists have discovered that the rapid spread of hybridization between a native species and an invasive species of trout in the wild is strongly linked to changes in climate.
Interior’s Secretary Jewell Announces New Wildlife and Climate Studies at the Northwest Climate Science Center
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced today that Interior’s Northwest Climate Science Center is awarding nearly $1.3 million to universities and other partners for research to assist Native Americans and federal and state land managers plan for and adapt to climate change.