Water
Water
Explore our projects on water.
Filter Total Items: 426
Assessing Genomic Diversity and Clonality in Tape Seagrass in Guam and Surrounding Pacific Islands to Inform Climate Resilient Restoration
Project Overview Seagrass meadows support island communities by sustaining fisheries and protecting shorelines. However, some species, such as tape grass, may lack the genetic variation needed to survive and adapt to warmer, saltier ocean waters. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will sequence the tape grass genome and assess genetic variation across Micronesia...
Future of Species Range Shifts: Rising Seas and the Coastal Squeeze: Modeling inland range shifts of Northwest coastal species in response to sea level rise
As climate change drives sea levels higher, coastal species and habitats may adapt by migrating inland. This landward shift may be challenged, however, by the presence of human-made and natural barriers, which may result in coastal habitat loss and declines in associated fish and wildlife populations. This is commonly known as ‘coastal squeeze’. To support the resilience of Northwest...
Increasing the Adaptive Capacity of Cold-Water Fishes Through Stream Barrier Removals
Project Overview As the climate continues to warm, managers are faced with challenges in providing suitable habitat for cold-water fish to increase their adaptive capacity. While the removal of barriers to fish movement, such as culverts and dams, would provide a rare opportunity to increase their adaptive capacity, managers currently have a limited number of resources to anticipate the...
Forecasting Tools to Inform the Management of Native Fishes and Their Habitats in a Drought Sensitive Terminal Lake System
Project Overview Terminal lake systems, water sources that are confined to streams, wetlands, and seasonal lakes that do not flow into the ocean, are greatly impacted by climate effects such as drought, reduced snowpack and increased wildfire activity. As a result, managers are faced with a lack of resources to study these aquatic habitats and the residing native fish. Researchers...
From Water to Life: Impact of Climate Warming on Potential Wetland and First Foods Habitat in Traditional Use Areas of The Klamath Tribes
Project Overview First foods are integral components of the culture, spirituality, medicine, well-being, and health of the Klamath people. Throughout the Klamath Basin, climate change has substantially impacted the seasonality, abundance, and quality of first foods and other culturally important resources. These impacts compound with long-term challenges to food security and food...
Translating Science to Action in Southern California’s Montane Forests
Project Overview The montane forests of Southern California provide countless ecosystem services to the surrounding region, but as they face many climate-related impacts, particularly changes to wildfire regimes, the conservation of these forests is becoming increasingly important. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will leverage and extend an established collaborative...
Accelerating Science to Action Partnerships (ASAP): Implementing science-driven adaptation strategies in the 2-3-2 Landscape
Project Overview In the Southwestern U.S., decades of wildfire suppression, drought, and climate-drive aridification have resulted in unnatural fuel-loading across forests and grasslands. With wildfire severity and frequency on the rise, communities and ecosystems are seeing more post-fire impacts such as flooding and debris flow as well. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC...
Enhancing Community and Wildlife Resilience to Sea‐Level Rise and Infrastructure Development in the San Pablo Baylands
Project Overview: The San Pablo Baylands support critical wildlife habitat and major transportation infrastructure, but the combined effects of sea-level rise and planned highway redesigns on habitat and public access remain uncertain. Scientists supported by this Southwest CASC project will work with federal, state, and regional managers to fill key data gaps and model how sea-level...
Habitat Evaluation Framework for Eastern Hellbender Recovery in Western North Carolina Post-Hurricane Helene
Project Overview: Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and wildlife habitat in western North Carolina. Resulting disruptions to stream ecosystems have threatened species like the eastern hellbender, a fully aquatic salamander and key indicator of stream health. Scientists supported by this Southeast CASC project will compile and evaluate pre-storm habitat...
The Combined Impacts of Climate Change and Intensive Agriculture on Wild Rice, a Culturally Critical Resource and Relative for Indigenous Communities
Project Overview Wild Rice is an important piece of Indigenous culture for tribal communities in the Upper Midwest. However, given the high vulnerability of this aquatic plant to climate change, tribal communities have seen a significant decline of Wild Rice in the past century. Despite the expansion of monitoring and restoration efforts, intensified agriculture has also contributed to...
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...
Building community-based monitoring partnerships between rural schools and wildlife refuges in Alaska
Project Overview In Alaska, winters are becoming shorter and more unpredictable, leading to changes in lake and river ice, impacting access to hunting grounds, fuel wood transportation and recreation for local communities. Researchers supported by this Alaska CASC project will revitalize and modernize a freshwater ice observation network with a youth-centric partnership that teams...