USGS Colorado River Basin Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology (ASIST) Initiative Science Co-Development Virtual Workshop, June 24-25, 2025
The USGS Actionable & Strategic Integrated Science & Technology (ASIST) Initiative hosted a science co-development virtual workshop on June 24-25, 2025, for external partners and USGS subject matter experts in the Colorado River Basin. The workshop provided partners with a synopsis of the 2023 Co-development workshop series and sought feedback about seed projects funded by the ASIST initiative.
Virtual Workshop Agenda--June 24, 2025
Virtual Workshop Agenda--June 24, 2025
9:00 AM--Welcome & Opening Remarks
- David Applegate, Chief Scientist, Office of the Director; Acting Associate Director for Natural Hazards Mission Area
- Bill Werkheiser, Associate Director for Water Mission Area
- Will Farmer, Acting USGS Drought Science Coordinator
9:10 AM--Workshop Introduction
- Meet the team
- Workshop Objectives
- Partner check-in: What’s eating your lunch?
9:25 AM--Keynote
- The role of groundwater in controlling streamflow and salinity loading in streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin, 1986-2020--Matt Miller, Research Hydrologist, Water Mission Area and Olivia Miller, Hydrologist, Utah Water Science Center
9:50 AM--Session 1: ASIST Foundations
- Video: EarthMAP to ASIST - Kathryn Dahm, Former Senior Scientist, Rocky Mountain Region
- The 2023 Co-Design Workshop - Jeanne Godaire, Senior Scientist, Rocky Mountain Region
- Overview of the 2023 Report - Patrick Anderson, Biologist, Fort Collins Science Center
10:45 AM--Session 2: 2023-2025 Co-Design Seed Projects
- Aridification versus Drought – Annie Putman, Hydrologist, Utah Water Science Center, Elizabeth Jachens, Hydrologist, California Water Science Center, and Rebecca Brice, Geosciences & Environmental Change Science Center
- Dust on Snow – Kaj Williams, Research Physical Scientist, Astrogeology Science Center
- USGS Dust Science – Gayle Tyree, Biologist, Southwest Biological Science Center
11:50 AM--Participant Feedback and Day 1 Closing
- Jeanne Godaire--Senior Scientist, Rocky Mountain Region
Virtual Workshop Agenda--June 25, 2025
Virtual Workshop Agenda--June 25, 2025
9:00 AM--Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Peter Griffiths, USGS Acting Deputy Director of Operations and USGS Regional Director, Rocky Mountain Region
9:10 AM--Session 3: 2023-2025 Co-design Seed Projects (continued)
- Environmental-Economic Accounting in the Colorado River Basin – Aaron Enriquez, Research Economist, Fort Collins Science Center
- Evaluating Ecohydrological Shifts and Patterns 1: Literature Review and Synthesis – Patrick Anderson, Biologist, Fort Collins Science Center
- Evaluating Ecohydrological Shifts and Patterns 2: Basin Characterization Model and Land Cover Models – Joseph Hevesi, Research Hydrologist, Emeritus, California Water Science Center (retired)
10:30 AM--Guest Speaker
- Co-developed groundwater and surface-water flow models for the Upper Colorado River Basin - Melissa Masbruch, Supervisory Hydrologist, Utah Water Science Center
10:55 AM--Session 4: Science Collaboration Portal for the Colorado River Basin
- Science Portal framework – Jeanne Godaire, Senior Scientist, Rocky Mountain Region
- Science Portal content and updates – Sharon Qi, Physical Scientist, Colorado Water Science Center
11:45 AM--2025 ASIST deliverables and Goals
- Bill Andrews, Senior Scientist, Rocky Mountain Region
11:55 AM--Day 2 Closing Remarks
- Jeanne Godaire, Senior Scientist, Rocky Mountain Region
For More Information about this Workshop--
For More Information about this Workshop--
Please email USGS Rocky Mountain Region Science Team and ASIST Initiative Staff Members Jeanne Godaire, Jessica Driscoll, or Bill Andrews.
Related
Science in the Colorado River Basin
The Colorado River is one of the longest rivers in the Western United States. It begins in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and flows southwestward until it reaches Mexico where it becomes a small stream or dry riverbed. The Colorado River forms the border between southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. In Nevada, Hoover Dam and Davis Dam control the flow of the river and create two...
Drought in the Colorado River Basin
The Colorado River Basin is currently experiencing its worst drought in recorded history. Drought impacts include worsening habitat conditions for several threatened and endangered species, wildland fire risks, reduced snowpack, changes in water availability and agricultural production; reduced recreation opportunities at National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Conservation areas; and impacts to...
Colorado River Basin: Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology
The Colorado River Basin is currently experiencing its worst drought in recorded history. The period from 2000 through 2020 is the driest 21-year period in over 100 years and one of the driest periods in the 1,200-year paleo-record. Drought impacts include worsening conditions in the 9 ecoregions, including habitat for several threatened and endangered species, wildland fire risks, reduced...
Drivers of Drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin
The purpose of this project is to investigate Colorado River basin droughts, and the role of temperature in influencing runoff efficiency. The project uses paleoclimatic data to extend instrumental climate and flow records, along with projected warming to assess the range of possible conditions that may be expected to occur and to determine how warming temperatures may influence river flow and...
Related
Science in the Colorado River Basin
The Colorado River is one of the longest rivers in the Western United States. It begins in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and flows southwestward until it reaches Mexico where it becomes a small stream or dry riverbed. The Colorado River forms the border between southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. In Nevada, Hoover Dam and Davis Dam control the flow of the river and create two...
Drought in the Colorado River Basin
The Colorado River Basin is currently experiencing its worst drought in recorded history. Drought impacts include worsening habitat conditions for several threatened and endangered species, wildland fire risks, reduced snowpack, changes in water availability and agricultural production; reduced recreation opportunities at National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Conservation areas; and impacts to...
Colorado River Basin: Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology
The Colorado River Basin is currently experiencing its worst drought in recorded history. The period from 2000 through 2020 is the driest 21-year period in over 100 years and one of the driest periods in the 1,200-year paleo-record. Drought impacts include worsening conditions in the 9 ecoregions, including habitat for several threatened and endangered species, wildland fire risks, reduced...
Drivers of Drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin
The purpose of this project is to investigate Colorado River basin droughts, and the role of temperature in influencing runoff efficiency. The project uses paleoclimatic data to extend instrumental climate and flow records, along with projected warming to assess the range of possible conditions that may be expected to occur and to determine how warming temperatures may influence river flow and...