Extreme Weather and Climate Events

Project Overview Flooding in urban centers caused by increasingly severe storms has led to massive economic, social, and ecological damage. Researchers supported by this South Central CASC project will examine flood vulnerability and mitigation efforts in Harris County, Texas, currently home to the highest concentration of federally funded relocation projects in the country. The...

Recent catastrophic droughts and wildfires have killed almost 20% of mature giant sequoia trees across California, and it is uncertain whether natural seedling regeneration will be enough to restore these forests, especially in severely burned areas. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will assess whether soil conditions, such as moisture and soil microbial communities...

Project Overview: Native Yellowstone cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYA) are ecologically and socio-economically important species, but are threatened by drought, rising water temperatures, habitat loss, and non-native species. Researchers supported by this North Central CASC project will use climate data and extensive population records to...

Climate change threatens many functions of wetlands and habitat connectivity for migratory shorebirds who use wetlands across the Southern Great Plains. Researchers supported by this South Central CASC project will survey stakeholders in the region, project climate impacts on wetland-dependent birds, and create tools for conservation planning (e.g., ranking wetland importance to...

Declining water levels in the Great Salt Lake are part of a larger trend of decreasing water availability in the Southwestern U.S. that presents significant challenges for people, animals, and ecosystems. One challenge is that as some lakes dry, newly exposed sediment containing heavy metals can become toxic dust that blows into populated areas. Increased air pollution and other effects...

Project Overview Forests in the Pacific Northwest support an extensive network of headwater streams and critical habitats for over 50 amphibian species, but face challenges from historical resource extraction, forest management, and climate change. Researchers supported by this Northwest CASC project will identify and map climate refugia to guide conservation strategies for at-risk...

Project Overview Hawaiian honeycreepers face numerous threats related to sea level rise, increasing storm frequency, erosion and invasive species. These impacts can alter their habitat, making it unsuitable and detrimental to their already small populations. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will create additional populations of a Hawaiian honeycreeper species by

Project Overview Climate risks, including floods and heatwaves, impact communities in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, but gaps in data, policy, and collaboration in the region can hinder effective climate adaptation. Researchers supported by this Midwest CASC project will work with communities to identify flood-vulnerable areas, evaluate various nature-based solutions, and develop a...

Project Overview As climate change intensifies, accurately forecasting regional flood, drought, and heat risks is critical for planning, but current global climate models lack the resolution needed for useful local predictions. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create high-resolution precipitation maps and flood...

Project Overview The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, and other native bees and pollinators, are declining due to climate change, habitat loss, and other stressors like pathogens and pesticide-use. Researchers supported by this Midwest CASC project will study how certain stressors interact to affect the geographic distribution of Rusty Patched Bumble Bees, using mapping techniques and future...

Project Overview Restoring grass-dominated landscapes into resilient forested ecosystems is a key strategy for addressing the growing risk of wildfire Hawaiʻi. However, conventional afforestation efforts typically require regular maintenance due to the persistent invasion of grasses in planted areas. In collaboration with Native Hawaiian Organizations, researchers supported by this...

Project Overview The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation faces challenges in maintaining stream health due to recent extreme weather events, oil and gas development, and row crop expansion. Researchers supported by this North Central CASC project will assess how these changes affect stream health while providing career development for undergraduate researchers from Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish...