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Amanda E Cravens, Ph.D.

Amanda Cravens is a Research Social Scientist at the Fort Collins Science Center. 

Amanda's interdisciplinary research interests include the translation of scientific information into decision making, policies and institutions that influence environmental management, and understanding the cognitive and social processes that make decision support tools work effectively. Amanda's disciplinary training includes geography, policy/institutional analysis, and the learning sciences. Her research spans resource areas, with recent and current projects focusing on decision support for coastal hazards, human dimensions of ecological drought, socioeconomic aspects of water availability, and land manager decision making in the face of ecological transformation. She is also very interested in the practice of interdisciplinary science and has served as a member of multiple working groups as well as published on the role of creativity in science.

Education
Ph.D. Environment and Resources, Stanford University, 2014
M.A. Geography, University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand), 2008
B.A. History, Swarthmore College, 2004

Professional Experience
Research Social Scientist, USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO (2017-present)
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow (Social Science), USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO (2015-2017)
Early Career Fellow, Gould Center for Conflict Resolution, Stanford Law School, Stanford, CA (2014-2015)
Dachs Fellow, Stanford Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, Stanford University, Stanford, CA (2009-2014)
Information Architect and Web Editor, SustainAbility Ltd, London UK (2008-2009)
Fulbright Graduate Fellow (New Zealand) (2006-2008)
Internet Coordinator, Resources for the Future, Washington DC (2005-2007)

Affiliations
North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, Fort Collins, CO (2015 to present)

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 20
link
Image of mountains in Crested Butte, Colorado, with trees and grass in foreground

Resist-Accept-Direct Framework

The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a decision-making tool that helps resource managers make informed strategies for responding to ecological changes resulting from climate change. 

link

Resist-Accept-Direct Framework

The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a decision-making tool that helps resource managers make informed strategies for responding to ecological changes resulting from climate change. 

Learn More
link
Hikers negotiate a mountainside near Fulford, CO.

Policy Analysis and Decision Support

Social and Economic Analysis Branch Social Scientists investigate the process of environmental decision making and how stakeholder engagement strategies, policies, institutions, and decision support tools influence management outcomes.
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Policy Analysis and Decision Support

Social and Economic Analysis Branch Social Scientists investigate the process of environmental decision making and how stakeholder engagement strategies, policies, institutions, and decision support tools influence management outcomes.
Learn More
link
Colorado River

Designing and Evaluating Decision Support Tools (DSTs)

Effective environmental management requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes.
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Designing and Evaluating Decision Support Tools (DSTs)

Effective environmental management requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes.
Learn More
link
Gallatin National Forest

Human Dimensions of Ecological Drought

Ecological impacts of drought have been rarely considered compared to agricultural or municipal water supply effects.
By
Fort Collins Science Center
link

Human Dimensions of Ecological Drought

Ecological impacts of drought have been rarely considered compared to agricultural or municipal water supply effects.
Learn More
link
Arid shrublands with dark clouds overhead. Heavy rain coming down on hills in background.

Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness

Drought is a complex environmental hazard that impacts both ecological and social systems. Accounting for the role of human attitudes, institutions, and societal values in drought planning is important to help identify how various drought durations and severity may differentially affect social resilience to adequately respond to and manage drought impacts. While there have been successful past eff
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
link

Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness

Drought is a complex environmental hazard that impacts both ecological and social systems. Accounting for the role of human attitudes, institutions, and societal values in drought planning is important to help identify how various drought durations and severity may differentially affect social resilience to adequately respond to and manage drought impacts. While there have been successful past eff
Learn More
link
Arid shrublands with dark clouds overhead. Heavy rain coming down on hills in background.

Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness

Drought is a complex environmental hazard that impacts both ecological and social systems. Accounting for the role of human attitudes, institutions, and societal values in drought planning is important to help identify how various drought durations and severity may differentially affect social resilience to adequately respond to and manage drought impacts. While there have been successful past eff
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
link

Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness

Drought is a complex environmental hazard that impacts both ecological and social systems. Accounting for the role of human attitudes, institutions, and societal values in drought planning is important to help identify how various drought durations and severity may differentially affect social resilience to adequately respond to and manage drought impacts. While there have been successful past eff
Learn More
link
Upper Colorado River near Moab, Utah

How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools

Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however, th
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
link

How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools

Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however, th
Learn More
link
Upper Colorado River near Moab, Utah

How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools

Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however, th
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
link

How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools

Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however, th
Learn More
link
The Yampa River at Dinosaur National Monument.

How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools (or Not)

Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however...
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center
link

How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools (or Not)

Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however...
Learn More
link
View looking up-stream toward Carraizo Dam, under drought conditions, 1994

Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group

The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is currently engaged in an Ecological Drought initiative, focused on understanding the impacts of drought on natural ecosystems across the country. This project was designed to support the Ecological Drought initiative by creating a USGS EcoDrought Actionable Science Working Group. The goal of this working group was to identify
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
link

Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group

The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is currently engaged in an Ecological Drought initiative, focused on understanding the impacts of drought on natural ecosystems across the country. This project was designed to support the Ecological Drought initiative by creating a USGS EcoDrought Actionable Science Working Group. The goal of this working group was to identify
Learn More
link
View looking up-stream toward Carraizo Dam, under drought conditions, 1994

Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group

The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is currently engaged in an Ecological Drought initiative, focused on understanding the impacts of drought on natural ecosystems across the country. This project was designed to support the Ecological Drought initiative by creating a USGS EcoDrought Actionable Science Working Group. The goal of this working group was to identify
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
link

Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group

The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is currently engaged in an Ecological Drought initiative, focused on understanding the impacts of drought on natural ecosystems across the country. This project was designed to support the Ecological Drought initiative by creating a USGS EcoDrought Actionable Science Working Group. The goal of this working group was to identify
Learn More
link
USGS science for a changing world logo

So you want to build a decision support tool? Assessing successes, pitfalls, and lessons learned for tool design and development

The purpose of this study is to understand how the USGS is using decision support, learning from successes and pitfalls in order to help streamline the design and development process across all levels of USGS scientific tool creation and outreach. What should researchers consider before diving into tool design and development? Our goal is to provide a synthesis of lessons learned and best practice
By
Community for Data Integration (CDI)
link

So you want to build a decision support tool? Assessing successes, pitfalls, and lessons learned for tool design and development

The purpose of this study is to understand how the USGS is using decision support, learning from successes and pitfalls in order to help streamline the design and development process across all levels of USGS scientific tool creation and outreach. What should researchers consider before diving into tool design and development? Our goal is to provide a synthesis of lessons learned and best practice
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 15

Social and Economic Analysis Branch: integrating policy, social, economic, and natural science

The Fort Collins Science Center's Social and Economic Analysis Branch provides unique capabilities in the U.S. Geological Survey by leading projects that integrate social, behavioral, economic, and natural science in the context of human–natural resource interactions. Our research provides scientific understanding and support for the management and conservation of our natural resources in support
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

Defining ecological drought for the 21st century

No abstract available.
By
Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Crossing boundaries in a collaborative modeling workspace

There is substantial literature on the importance of bridging across disciplinary and science–management boundaries. One of the ways commonly suggested to cross boundaries is for participants from both sides of the boundary to jointly produce information (i.e., knowledge co-production). But simply providing tools or bringing people together in the same room is not sufficient. Here we present a cas
By
Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center, North Central Climate Science Center

Ecological drought: Accounting for the non-human impacts of water shortage in the Upper Missouri Headwaters Basin, Montana, USA

Water laws and drought plans are used to prioritize and allocate scarce water resources. Both have historically been human-centric, failing to account for non-human water needs. In this paper, we examine the development of instream flow legislation and the evolution of drought planning to highlight the growing concern for the non-human impacts of water scarcity. Utilizing a new framework for ecolo
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

Rivers are social–ecological systems: Time to integrate human dimensions into riverscape ecology and management

Incorporation of concepts from landscape ecology into understanding and managing riverine ecosystems has become widely known as riverscape ecology. Riverscape ecology emphasizes interactions among processes at different scales and their consequences for valued ecosystem components, such as riverine fishes. Past studies have focused strongly on understanding the ecological processes in riverscapes
By
Ecosystems, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

How and why Upper Colorado River Basin land, water, and fire managers choose to use drought tools (or not)

On the Western Slope of Colorado, variable climate and precipitation conditions are typical. Periods of drought—which may be defined by lack of water, high temperatures, low soil moisture, or other indicators—cause a range of impacts across sectors, including water, land, and fire management.The Western Slope’s Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) was one of the first pilot areas in which the Nationa
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

Planning for ecological drought: Integrating ecosystem services and vulnerability assessment

As research recognizes the importance of ecological impacts of drought to natural and human communities, drought planning processes need to better incorporate ecological impacts. Drought planning currently recognizes the vulnerability of some ecological impacts from drought (e.g., loss of instream flow affecting fish populations). However, planning often does not identify all the ecological aspect
By
Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Identifying characteristics of actionable science for drought planning and adaptation: Final report to the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center

Changing climate conditions can make water management planning and drought preparedness decisions more complicated than ever before. Resource managers can no longer rely solely on historical data and trends to base their actions, and are in need of science that is relevant to their specific needs and can directly inform important planning decisions. Questions remain, however, regarding the most ef
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

Intermountain west drought social science synthesis working group: Report to the National Climate Adaptation Science Center

Throughout the Intermountain West, there has been significant investment in understanding how social factors influence manager and citizen experiences of drought in particular locations. Yet there is still a gap in knowledge of how human dimensions of drought impacts, planning, and resilience are similar and different across cases and regions. Building on the natural science understanding develope
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

Resist-accept-direct (RAD)-A framework for the 21st-century natural resource manager

An assumption of stationarity—i.e. “the idea that natural systems fluctuate within an unchanging envelope of variability” (Milly et al. 2008)—underlies traditional conservation and natural resource management, as evidenced by widespread reliance on ecological baselines to guide protection, restoration, and other management. Although ecological change certainly occurred under the relatively stable
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

Integrating ecological impacts: Perspectives on drought in the Upper Missouri Headwaters, Montana, United States

Drought is a complex challenge experienced in specific locations through diverse impacts, including ecological impacts. Different professionals involved in drought preparedness and response approach the problem from different points of view, which means they may or may not recognize ecological impacts. This study examines the extent to which interviewees perceive ecological drought in the Upper Mi
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

A typology of drought decision making: Synthesizing across cases to understand drought preparedness and response actions

Drought is an inescapable reality in many regions, including much of the western United States. With climate change, droughts are predicted to intensify and occur more frequently, making the imperative for drought management even greater. Many diverse actors – including private landowners, business owners, scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and managers and policymakers within trib
By
Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

Pre-USGS Publications

A. R. Siders, C.M. Brook,, A.E. Cravens, R.L. Nelson, D.R. Reineman & N. Ulibarri. "How to beat isolation? Academic feedback groups fit the bill, and promote growth as scholars and humans." Nature 582, 597-598 (2020), doi: 10.1038/d41586-020-01432-3
Cravens, A. E., and N. M. Ardoin. 2016. Negotiating credibility and legitimacy in the shadow of an authoritative data source. Ecology and Society 21(4):30.
Moran, T., Cravens, A., Martinez, J., and Szeptycki, L. 2016. From the ground down: Understanding the groundwater data collection and sharing practices of local groundwater management agencies in California. Stanford, CA: Water in the West, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. https://woods.stanford.edu/publications/ground-down-understanding-local-groundwater-data-collection-and-sharing-practices
Gould, R., Ardoin, N.M., Biggar, M., Cravens, A.E., and Wojcik, D. 2016. Environmental behavior's dirty secret: The prevalence of waste management in discussions of environmental concern and action. Environmental Management. 58(2), 268–282. doi:10.1007/s00267-016-0710-6
Cravens, A.E. 2015. Negotiation and decision making with collaborative software: How the geospatial decision support tool MarineMap ‘changed the game’ in California’s Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. Environmental Management. 57(2), 474-497. doi: 10.1007/s00267-015-0615-9
Moran, T. and Cravens, A. 2015. California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014: Recommendations for preventing and resolving groundwater conflicts. Stanford, CA: Water in the West, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. http://waterinthewest.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/SGMA_RecommendationsforGWConflicts_2.pdf
Cravens, A.E. 2014. Needs before tools: Using technology in environmental conflict resolution. Conflict Resolution Quarterly 32(1), 3–32. doi: 10.1002/crq.21071.
Cravens, A.E., Ulibarri, N., Cornelius, M., Royalty, A., and Nabergoj, A.S. 2014. Reflecting, iterating, and tolerating ambiguity: Highlighting the creative process of scientific and scholarly research for doctoral education. International Journal of Doctoral Studies 9, 229–247. http://ijds.org/Volume9/IJDSv9p229-247Cravens0637.pdf
Ulibarri, N., Cravens, A.E., Cornelius, M., Royalty, A., and Nabergoj, A.S. 2014. Research as design: Developing creative confidence in doctoral students through design thinking. International Journal of Doctoral Studies 9, 249–270. http://ijds.org/Volume9/IJDSv9p249-270Ulibarri0676.pdf
J.N. Kittinger, J.Z. Koehn, E. Le Cornu, N.C. Ban, M.H. Armsby, X. Basurto, C. Brooks, M.H. Carr, J.E. Cinner, A. Cravens, M. D’Iorio, A.L. Erickson, E.M. Finkbeiner, M.M. Foley, R. Fujita, S. Gelcich, M. Gopnik, L. Hazen, M. Lopuch, K. St. Martin, E.E. Prahler, D.R. Reineman, J. Shackeroff, C. White, M.R. Caldwell, L.B. Crowder. 2014. Putting people into ocean planning: a framework for incorporating social data. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 12(8), 448-456. doi:10.1890/130267.
link

Recordings Available: Ecological Drought National Webinar Series

The ecological drought webinar series was co-hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA's) National Integrated Drought...

Read Article
link

National Park Service, USGS Collaborate on Decision Framework for the 21st-century Natural Resource Manager

Fort Collins social scientists collaborated with several federal land management agency partners to publish Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD)—A Decision...

Read Article
link

Next Generation of Women in Science

As part of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Fort Collins Science Center scientists volunteered to pass along personal and professional...

Read Article
link

New Framework Describes How Diverse Actors Make Drought Management Decisions

A recent study synthesizes drought case studies across the western U.S. to create a framework describing how diverse actors, from private landowners...

Read Article

Science and Products

  • Science
    Filter Total Items: 20
    link
    Image of mountains in Crested Butte, Colorado, with trees and grass in foreground

    Resist-Accept-Direct Framework

    The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a decision-making tool that helps resource managers make informed strategies for responding to ecological changes resulting from climate change. 

    link

    Resist-Accept-Direct Framework

    The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a decision-making tool that helps resource managers make informed strategies for responding to ecological changes resulting from climate change. 

    Learn More
    link
    Hikers negotiate a mountainside near Fulford, CO.

    Policy Analysis and Decision Support

    Social and Economic Analysis Branch Social Scientists investigate the process of environmental decision making and how stakeholder engagement strategies, policies, institutions, and decision support tools influence management outcomes.
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center
    link

    Policy Analysis and Decision Support

    Social and Economic Analysis Branch Social Scientists investigate the process of environmental decision making and how stakeholder engagement strategies, policies, institutions, and decision support tools influence management outcomes.
    Learn More
    link
    Colorado River

    Designing and Evaluating Decision Support Tools (DSTs)

    Effective environmental management requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes.
    By
    Fort Collins Science Center
    link

    Designing and Evaluating Decision Support Tools (DSTs)

    Effective environmental management requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes.
    Learn More
    link
    Gallatin National Forest

    Human Dimensions of Ecological Drought

    Ecological impacts of drought have been rarely considered compared to agricultural or municipal water supply effects.
    By
    Fort Collins Science Center
    link

    Human Dimensions of Ecological Drought

    Ecological impacts of drought have been rarely considered compared to agricultural or municipal water supply effects.
    Learn More
    link
    Arid shrublands with dark clouds overhead. Heavy rain coming down on hills in background.

    Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness

    Drought is a complex environmental hazard that impacts both ecological and social systems. Accounting for the role of human attitudes, institutions, and societal values in drought planning is important to help identify how various drought durations and severity may differentially affect social resilience to adequately respond to and manage drought impacts. While there have been successful past eff
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
    link

    Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness

    Drought is a complex environmental hazard that impacts both ecological and social systems. Accounting for the role of human attitudes, institutions, and societal values in drought planning is important to help identify how various drought durations and severity may differentially affect social resilience to adequately respond to and manage drought impacts. While there have been successful past eff
    Learn More
    link
    Arid shrublands with dark clouds overhead. Heavy rain coming down on hills in background.

    Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness

    Drought is a complex environmental hazard that impacts both ecological and social systems. Accounting for the role of human attitudes, institutions, and societal values in drought planning is important to help identify how various drought durations and severity may differentially affect social resilience to adequately respond to and manage drought impacts. While there have been successful past eff
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
    link

    Developing and Testing a Rapid Assessment Method for Understanding Key Social Factors of Ecological Drought Preparedness

    Drought is a complex environmental hazard that impacts both ecological and social systems. Accounting for the role of human attitudes, institutions, and societal values in drought planning is important to help identify how various drought durations and severity may differentially affect social resilience to adequately respond to and manage drought impacts. While there have been successful past eff
    Learn More
    link
    Upper Colorado River near Moab, Utah

    How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools

    Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however, th
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
    link

    How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools

    Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however, th
    Learn More
    link
    Upper Colorado River near Moab, Utah

    How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools

    Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however, th
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
    link

    How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools

    Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however, th
    Learn More
    link
    The Yampa River at Dinosaur National Monument.

    How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools (or Not)

    Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however...
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center
    link

    How and Why Upper Colorado River Basin Land, Water, and Fire Managers Choose to Use Drought Tools (or Not)

    Preparing for and responding to drought requires integrating scientific information into complex decision making processes. In recognition of this challenge, regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) and related drought-information tools have been developed under the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Despite the existence of many tools and information sources, however...
    Learn More
    link
    View looking up-stream toward Carraizo Dam, under drought conditions, 1994

    Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group

    The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is currently engaged in an Ecological Drought initiative, focused on understanding the impacts of drought on natural ecosystems across the country. This project was designed to support the Ecological Drought initiative by creating a USGS EcoDrought Actionable Science Working Group. The goal of this working group was to identify
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
    link

    Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group

    The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is currently engaged in an Ecological Drought initiative, focused on understanding the impacts of drought on natural ecosystems across the country. This project was designed to support the Ecological Drought initiative by creating a USGS EcoDrought Actionable Science Working Group. The goal of this working group was to identify
    Learn More
    link
    View looking up-stream toward Carraizo Dam, under drought conditions, 1994

    Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group

    The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is currently engaged in an Ecological Drought initiative, focused on understanding the impacts of drought on natural ecosystems across the country. This project was designed to support the Ecological Drought initiative by creating a USGS EcoDrought Actionable Science Working Group. The goal of this working group was to identify
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center
    link

    Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group

    The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is currently engaged in an Ecological Drought initiative, focused on understanding the impacts of drought on natural ecosystems across the country. This project was designed to support the Ecological Drought initiative by creating a USGS EcoDrought Actionable Science Working Group. The goal of this working group was to identify
    Learn More
    link
    USGS science for a changing world logo

    So you want to build a decision support tool? Assessing successes, pitfalls, and lessons learned for tool design and development

    The purpose of this study is to understand how the USGS is using decision support, learning from successes and pitfalls in order to help streamline the design and development process across all levels of USGS scientific tool creation and outreach. What should researchers consider before diving into tool design and development? Our goal is to provide a synthesis of lessons learned and best practice
    By
    Community for Data Integration (CDI)
    link

    So you want to build a decision support tool? Assessing successes, pitfalls, and lessons learned for tool design and development

    The purpose of this study is to understand how the USGS is using decision support, learning from successes and pitfalls in order to help streamline the design and development process across all levels of USGS scientific tool creation and outreach. What should researchers consider before diving into tool design and development? Our goal is to provide a synthesis of lessons learned and best practice
    Learn More
  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 15

    Social and Economic Analysis Branch: integrating policy, social, economic, and natural science

    The Fort Collins Science Center's Social and Economic Analysis Branch provides unique capabilities in the U.S. Geological Survey by leading projects that integrate social, behavioral, economic, and natural science in the context of human–natural resource interactions. Our research provides scientific understanding and support for the management and conservation of our natural resources in support
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

    Defining ecological drought for the 21st century

    No abstract available.
    By
    Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

    Crossing boundaries in a collaborative modeling workspace

    There is substantial literature on the importance of bridging across disciplinary and science–management boundaries. One of the ways commonly suggested to cross boundaries is for participants from both sides of the boundary to jointly produce information (i.e., knowledge co-production). But simply providing tools or bringing people together in the same room is not sufficient. Here we present a cas
    By
    Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center, North Central Climate Science Center

    Ecological drought: Accounting for the non-human impacts of water shortage in the Upper Missouri Headwaters Basin, Montana, USA

    Water laws and drought plans are used to prioritize and allocate scarce water resources. Both have historically been human-centric, failing to account for non-human water needs. In this paper, we examine the development of instream flow legislation and the evolution of drought planning to highlight the growing concern for the non-human impacts of water scarcity. Utilizing a new framework for ecolo
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

    Rivers are social–ecological systems: Time to integrate human dimensions into riverscape ecology and management

    Incorporation of concepts from landscape ecology into understanding and managing riverine ecosystems has become widely known as riverscape ecology. Riverscape ecology emphasizes interactions among processes at different scales and their consequences for valued ecosystem components, such as riverine fishes. Past studies have focused strongly on understanding the ecological processes in riverscapes
    By
    Ecosystems, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

    How and why Upper Colorado River Basin land, water, and fire managers choose to use drought tools (or not)

    On the Western Slope of Colorado, variable climate and precipitation conditions are typical. Periods of drought—which may be defined by lack of water, high temperatures, low soil moisture, or other indicators—cause a range of impacts across sectors, including water, land, and fire management.The Western Slope’s Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) was one of the first pilot areas in which the Nationa
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

    Planning for ecological drought: Integrating ecosystem services and vulnerability assessment

    As research recognizes the importance of ecological impacts of drought to natural and human communities, drought planning processes need to better incorporate ecological impacts. Drought planning currently recognizes the vulnerability of some ecological impacts from drought (e.g., loss of instream flow affecting fish populations). However, planning often does not identify all the ecological aspect
    By
    Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

    Identifying characteristics of actionable science for drought planning and adaptation: Final report to the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center

    Changing climate conditions can make water management planning and drought preparedness decisions more complicated than ever before. Resource managers can no longer rely solely on historical data and trends to base their actions, and are in need of science that is relevant to their specific needs and can directly inform important planning decisions. Questions remain, however, regarding the most ef
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

    Intermountain west drought social science synthesis working group: Report to the National Climate Adaptation Science Center

    Throughout the Intermountain West, there has been significant investment in understanding how social factors influence manager and citizen experiences of drought in particular locations. Yet there is still a gap in knowledge of how human dimensions of drought impacts, planning, and resilience are similar and different across cases and regions. Building on the natural science understanding develope
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

    Resist-accept-direct (RAD)-A framework for the 21st-century natural resource manager

    An assumption of stationarity—i.e. “the idea that natural systems fluctuate within an unchanging envelope of variability” (Milly et al. 2008)—underlies traditional conservation and natural resource management, as evidenced by widespread reliance on ecological baselines to guide protection, restoration, and other management. Although ecological change certainly occurred under the relatively stable
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

    Integrating ecological impacts: Perspectives on drought in the Upper Missouri Headwaters, Montana, United States

    Drought is a complex challenge experienced in specific locations through diverse impacts, including ecological impacts. Different professionals involved in drought preparedness and response approach the problem from different points of view, which means they may or may not recognize ecological impacts. This study examines the extent to which interviewees perceive ecological drought in the Upper Mi
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

    A typology of drought decision making: Synthesizing across cases to understand drought preparedness and response actions

    Drought is an inescapable reality in many regions, including much of the western United States. With climate change, droughts are predicted to intensify and occur more frequently, making the imperative for drought management even greater. Many diverse actors – including private landowners, business owners, scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and managers and policymakers within trib
    By
    Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

    Pre-USGS Publications

    A. R. Siders, C.M. Brook,, A.E. Cravens, R.L. Nelson, D.R. Reineman & N. Ulibarri. "How to beat isolation? Academic feedback groups fit the bill, and promote growth as scholars and humans." Nature 582, 597-598 (2020), doi: 10.1038/d41586-020-01432-3
    Cravens, A. E., and N. M. Ardoin. 2016. Negotiating credibility and legitimacy in the shadow of an authoritative data source. Ecology and Society 21(4):30.
    Moran, T., Cravens, A., Martinez, J., and Szeptycki, L. 2016. From the ground down: Understanding the groundwater data collection and sharing practices of local groundwater management agencies in California. Stanford, CA: Water in the West, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. https://woods.stanford.edu/publications/ground-down-understanding-local-groundwater-data-collection-and-sharing-practices
    Gould, R., Ardoin, N.M., Biggar, M., Cravens, A.E., and Wojcik, D. 2016. Environmental behavior's dirty secret: The prevalence of waste management in discussions of environmental concern and action. Environmental Management. 58(2), 268–282. doi:10.1007/s00267-016-0710-6
    Cravens, A.E. 2015. Negotiation and decision making with collaborative software: How the geospatial decision support tool MarineMap ‘changed the game’ in California’s Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. Environmental Management. 57(2), 474-497. doi: 10.1007/s00267-015-0615-9
    Moran, T. and Cravens, A. 2015. California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014: Recommendations for preventing and resolving groundwater conflicts. Stanford, CA: Water in the West, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. http://waterinthewest.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/SGMA_RecommendationsforGWConflicts_2.pdf
    Cravens, A.E. 2014. Needs before tools: Using technology in environmental conflict resolution. Conflict Resolution Quarterly 32(1), 3–32. doi: 10.1002/crq.21071.
    Cravens, A.E., Ulibarri, N., Cornelius, M., Royalty, A., and Nabergoj, A.S. 2014. Reflecting, iterating, and tolerating ambiguity: Highlighting the creative process of scientific and scholarly research for doctoral education. International Journal of Doctoral Studies 9, 229–247. http://ijds.org/Volume9/IJDSv9p229-247Cravens0637.pdf
    Ulibarri, N., Cravens, A.E., Cornelius, M., Royalty, A., and Nabergoj, A.S. 2014. Research as design: Developing creative confidence in doctoral students through design thinking. International Journal of Doctoral Studies 9, 249–270. http://ijds.org/Volume9/IJDSv9p249-270Ulibarri0676.pdf
    J.N. Kittinger, J.Z. Koehn, E. Le Cornu, N.C. Ban, M.H. Armsby, X. Basurto, C. Brooks, M.H. Carr, J.E. Cinner, A. Cravens, M. D’Iorio, A.L. Erickson, E.M. Finkbeiner, M.M. Foley, R. Fujita, S. Gelcich, M. Gopnik, L. Hazen, M. Lopuch, K. St. Martin, E.E. Prahler, D.R. Reineman, J. Shackeroff, C. White, M.R. Caldwell, L.B. Crowder. 2014. Putting people into ocean planning: a framework for incorporating social data. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 12(8), 448-456. doi:10.1890/130267.
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    Recordings Available: Ecological Drought National Webinar Series

    The ecological drought webinar series was co-hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA's) National Integrated Drought...

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    National Park Service, USGS Collaborate on Decision Framework for the 21st-century Natural Resource Manager

    Fort Collins social scientists collaborated with several federal land management agency partners to publish Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD)—A Decision...

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    Next Generation of Women in Science

    As part of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Fort Collins Science Center scientists volunteered to pass along personal and professional...

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    New Framework Describes How Diverse Actors Make Drought Management Decisions

    A recent study synthesizes drought case studies across the western U.S. to create a framework describing how diverse actors, from private landowners...

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