Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Science Tools for Managers

Through our science projects, the CASCs strive to conduct science that is directly useful to resource managers and informs adaptation decision making. CASC-funded researchers develop data sets, web applications, assessments, surveys, and other tools that are publicly available for future management or research projects. Browse our projects on this topic below. 

Filter Total Items: 595

The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) Framework

The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a tool that helps resource managers make informed strategies for responding to socio-ecological changes, including climate change.
The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) Framework

The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) Framework

The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a tool that helps resource managers make informed strategies for responding to socio-ecological changes, including climate change.
Learn More

USGS Team Science Curriculum

USGS scientists are developing a team science curriculum to teach researchers from different fields and backgrounds how to work collaboratively and creatively to address complex environmental challenges.
USGS Team Science Curriculum

USGS Team Science Curriculum

USGS scientists are developing a team science curriculum to teach researchers from different fields and backgrounds how to work collaboratively and creatively to address complex environmental challenges.
Learn More

A New Tool for Monitoring Vegetation Water Use and Efficiency to Support Sustainable Agroecosystem Management

Oklahoma and Texas are facing significant future water shortages that threaten farming and ranching communities. Though conservation-based management practices are being implemented across the states, there are inadequate tools for monitoring vegetation water use efficiency in real time. Researchers supported by this South Central CASC project will develop a web-based tool using high...
A New Tool for Monitoring Vegetation Water Use and Efficiency to Support Sustainable Agroecosystem Management

A New Tool for Monitoring Vegetation Water Use and Efficiency to Support Sustainable Agroecosystem Management

Oklahoma and Texas are facing significant future water shortages that threaten farming and ranching communities. Though conservation-based management practices are being implemented across the states, there are inadequate tools for monitoring vegetation water use efficiency in real time. Researchers supported by this South Central CASC project will develop a web-based tool using high-resolution sa
Learn More

Adding Fuel to the Fire: Determining Vegetation-Specific Drought Timescales That Enhance Fuel Flammability and Fire Potential

Project Overview Increasing severe drought events occurring across the Colorado Plateau can harm vegetation and create drier and more flammable fuel for wildfire. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will analyze drought indices and satellite data to show how quickly after drought begins that different types of vegetation across the region show signs of health declines...
Adding Fuel to the Fire: Determining Vegetation-Specific Drought Timescales That Enhance Fuel Flammability and Fire Potential

Adding Fuel to the Fire: Determining Vegetation-Specific Drought Timescales That Enhance Fuel Flammability and Fire Potential

Project Overview Increasing severe drought events occurring across the Colorado Plateau can harm vegetation and create drier and more flammable fuel for wildfire. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will analyze drought indices and satellite data to show how quickly after drought begins that different types of vegetation across the region show signs of health declines and increas
Learn More

After the Dams: Fire Impacts and Restoration Opportunities for a Culturally Important Klamath River Willow

Project Overview The sandbar willow of the Klamath River is used within the Karuk Tribe’s ongoing cultural practices of basketweaving. The willow has been threatened by intensifying fire and dams, but restoration and the recent historical dam removals provide an opportunity to increase the quantity, quality, and access to this important resource. Researchers supported by this Southwest...
After the Dams: Fire Impacts and Restoration Opportunities for a Culturally Important Klamath River Willow

After the Dams: Fire Impacts and Restoration Opportunities for a Culturally Important Klamath River Willow

Project Overview The sandbar willow of the Klamath River is used within the Karuk Tribe’s ongoing cultural practices of basketweaving. The willow has been threatened by intensifying fire and dams, but restoration and the recent historical dam removals provide an opportunity to increase the quantity, quality, and access to this important resource. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC projec
Learn More

Building Climate-Resilient Rangelands Amidst Fire, Grazing, and Ecological Invasion in California

Rangelands in California face significant challenges from climate change, wildfires, and invasive species, threatening their productivity and the benefits they provide to local communities. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will develop a management framework for restoring climate-resilient rangelands in California by examining interactions between fire, grazing, and...
Building Climate-Resilient Rangelands Amidst Fire, Grazing, and Ecological Invasion in California

Building Climate-Resilient Rangelands Amidst Fire, Grazing, and Ecological Invasion in California

Rangelands in California face significant challenges from climate change, wildfires, and invasive species, threatening their productivity and the benefits they provide to local communities. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will develop a management framework for restoring climate-resilient rangelands in California by examining interactions between fire, grazing, and plant invas
Learn More

Climate Smart Forest Adaptation in the Wake of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is an insect causing extensive hemlock tree die-offs in the northeast, and a lack of information on climate adaptation practices is hindering effective forest management. With the overall goal of fostering resilient forests that support northeastern hemlock ecosystems and wildlife, researchers supported by this Northeast-CASC project will work with land...
Climate Smart Forest Adaptation in the Wake of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Climate Smart Forest Adaptation in the Wake of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is an insect causing extensive hemlock tree die-offs in the northeast, and a lack of information on climate adaptation practices is hindering effective forest management. With the overall goal of fostering resilient forests that support northeastern hemlock ecosystems and wildlife, researchers supported by this Northeast-CASC project will work with land managers to
Learn More

Climate-Informed Disease Threat Assessment for Montana’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Project Overview Infectious disease poses a growing threat to wildlife and human health, and managing disease threats is complicated by climatic changes that can change levels of disease risk. Researchers supported by this North Central CASC project will co-develop a method to rank wildlife disease threats under climate change, providing critical useable information to Montana’s wildlife...
Climate-Informed Disease Threat Assessment for Montana’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Climate-Informed Disease Threat Assessment for Montana’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Project Overview Infectious disease poses a growing threat to wildlife and human health, and managing disease threats is complicated by climatic changes that can change levels of disease risk. Researchers supported by this North Central CASC project will co-develop a method to rank wildlife disease threats under climate change, providing critical useable information to Montana’s wildlife manager
Learn More

Co-producing Robust Estimates of Feral Horses on Tribal Lands

Feral horse populations in the southwestern United States, including on tribal lands, are far above sustainable levels. This overpopulation poses threats to rangeland ecosystems as the feral horses compete with native species and livestock for limited resources – which likely will become even more limited with climate change. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will...
Co-producing Robust Estimates of Feral Horses on Tribal Lands

Co-producing Robust Estimates of Feral Horses on Tribal Lands

Feral horse populations in the southwestern United States, including on tribal lands, are far above sustainable levels. This overpopulation poses threats to rangeland ecosystems as the feral horses compete with native species and livestock for limited resources – which likely will become even more limited with climate change. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will partner with t
Learn More

Coastal Wetland Dynamics and Impacts on Hurricane Flood Risk along the Texas Gulf Coast in a Changing Climate

Wetlands along the Gulf Coast are crucial for reducing hurricane-induced flooding and as habitat for diverse wildlife, but are threatened by rising sea levels, climate change, and coastal development. Using remote sensing data, future climate data, and numerical models, researchers from this South Central CASC-supported project will collaborate with local expert groups to create data and...
Coastal Wetland Dynamics and Impacts on Hurricane Flood Risk along the Texas Gulf Coast in a Changing Climate

Coastal Wetland Dynamics and Impacts on Hurricane Flood Risk along the Texas Gulf Coast in a Changing Climate

Wetlands along the Gulf Coast are crucial for reducing hurricane-induced flooding and as habitat for diverse wildlife, but are threatened by rising sea levels, climate change, and coastal development. Using remote sensing data, future climate data, and numerical models, researchers from this South Central CASC-supported project will collaborate with local expert groups to create data and maps abou
Learn More

Designing Climate-Resilient Stormwater Management in Northeastern US Cities to Support Stream Ecosystems

Current stormwater management infrastructure and strategies in the northeastern US are built around historical weather data and not the weather that is expected with climate change, like more frequent extreme rainfall. This matters because stormwater can introduce pollution to streams and can cause flooding. Researchers supported by this Northeast CASC project will combine climate data...
Designing Climate-Resilient Stormwater Management in Northeastern US Cities to Support Stream Ecosystems

Designing Climate-Resilient Stormwater Management in Northeastern US Cities to Support Stream Ecosystems

Current stormwater management infrastructure and strategies in the northeastern US are built around historical weather data and not the weather that is expected with climate change, like more frequent extreme rainfall. This matters because stormwater can introduce pollution to streams and can cause flooding. Researchers supported by this Northeast CASC project will combine climate data, stormwater
Learn More

Evaluating Climate-related Threats and Conservation Strategies for the Cascade Red Fox in Washington

The endangered Cascade red fox, native to Washington’s southern Cascades, faces threats from climate change, habitat loss, and coyotes, which are both competitors and predators. Researchers supported by this Northwest CASC project will track Cascade red fox population sizes, movement, habitat use, and survival using GPS collars. They will use the collected data in collaboration with...
Evaluating Climate-related Threats and Conservation Strategies for the Cascade Red Fox in Washington

Evaluating Climate-related Threats and Conservation Strategies for the Cascade Red Fox in Washington

The endangered Cascade red fox, native to Washington’s southern Cascades, faces threats from climate change, habitat loss, and coyotes, which are both competitors and predators. Researchers supported by this Northwest CASC project will track Cascade red fox population sizes, movement, habitat use, and survival using GPS collars. They will use the collected data in collaboration with state, federal
Learn More
Was this page helpful?