Amanda E Cravens, Ph.D.
Amanda Cravens is a Research Social Scientist at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem 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.
Professional Experience
Research Social Scientist, USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR (2023-present)
Research Social Scientist, USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO (2017-2023)
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)
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environment and Resources, Stanford University, 2014
M.A. Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2008
B.A. History, Swarthmore College, 2004
Affiliations and Memberships*
Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (2023 to present)
North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (2015 to 2023)
Science and Products
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 39
A science agenda to inform natural resource management decisions in an era of ecological transformation A science agenda to inform natural resource management decisions in an era of ecological transformation
Earth is experiencing widespread ecological transformation in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems that is attributable to directional environmental changes, especially intensifying climate change. To better steward ecosystems facing unprecedented and lasting change, a new management paradigm is forming, supported by a decision-oriented framework that presents three distinct...
Authors
Shelley Crausbay, Helen Sofaer, Amanda Cravens, Brian Chaffin, Katherine Clifford, John Gross, Corrine Knapp, David Lawrence, Dawn Magness, Abraham Miller-Rushing, Gregor Schuurman, Camille Stevens-Rumann
Responding to ecological transformation: Mental models, external constraints, and manager decision-making Responding to ecological transformation: Mental models, external constraints, and manager decision-making
Ecological transformation creates many challenges for public natural resource management and requires managers to grapple with new relationships to change and new ways to manage it. In the context of unfamiliar trajectories of ecological change, a manager can resist, accept, or direct change, choices that make up the resist-accept-direct (RAD) framework. In this article, we provide a...
Authors
Katherine Clifford, Amanda Cravens, Corrine Knapp
Engaging with stakeholders to produce actionable science: A framework and guidance Engaging with stakeholders to produce actionable science: A framework and guidance
Natural and cultural resource managers are increasingly working with the scientific community to create information on how best to adapt to the current and projected impacts of climate change. Engaging with these managers is a strategy that researchers can use to ensure that scientific outputs and findings are actionable (or useful and usable). In this article, the authors adapt Davidson...
Authors
Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, Amanda Cravens, Alisa Wade, Renee McPherson
A typology of drought decision making: Synthesizing across cases to understand drought preparedness and response actions 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...
Authors
Amanda Cravens, Jennifer Henderson, Jack Friedman, Nina Burkardt, Ashley Cooper, Tonya Haigh, Michael Hayes, Jamie McEvoy, Stephanie Paladino, Adam Wilke, Hailey Wilmer
Integrating ecological impacts: Perspectives on drought in the Upper Missouri Headwaters, Montana, United States 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...
Authors
Amanda Cravens, Jamie McEvoy, Dionne Zoanni, Shelley Crausbay, Aaron Ramirez, Ashley Cooper
Assessing the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in California Assessing the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in California
With aquifers around the world stressed by over-extraction, water managers are increasingly turning to managed aquifer recharge (MAR), directly replenishing groundwater resources through injection wells, recharge basins, or other approaches. While there has been progress in understanding the geological and infrastructure-related considerations to make MAR more effective, critical...
Authors
Nicola Ulibarri, Nataly Escobedo Garcia, Rebecca Nelson, Amanda Cravens, Ryan McCarty
Resist-accept-direct (RAD)-A framework for the 21st-century natural resource manager 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...
Authors
Gregor Schuurman, Cat Hawkins Hoffman, David N. Cole, David J. Lawrence, John M. Morton, Dawn Magness, Amanda Cravens, Scott Covington, Robin O'Malley, Nicholas Fisichelli
Identifying characteristics of actionable science for drought planning and adaptation: Final report to the North Central Climate Adaptation 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...
Authors
Adam Wilke, Amanda Cravens
Intermountain west drought social science synthesis working group: Report to the National Climate Adaptation 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...
Authors
Adam Wilke, Amanda Cravens, Robin O’Malley
Planning for ecological drought: Integrating ecosystem services and vulnerability assessment 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...
Authors
Nejem Raheem, Amanda Cravens, Molly Cross, Shelley Crausbay, Aaron Ramirez, Jamie McEvoy, Dionne Zoanni, Deborah Bathke, Michael Hayes, Shawn Carter, Madeleine Rubenstein, Ann Schwend, Kimberly Hall, Paul Suberu
How and why Upper Colorado River Basin land, water, and fire managers choose to use drought tools (or not) 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...
Authors
Amanda Cravens
Rivers are social–ecological systems: Time to integrate human dimensions into riverscape ecology and management 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...
Authors
Jason Dunham, Paul Angermeier, Shelley Crausbay, Amanda Cravens, Hannah Gosnell, Jamie McEvoy, Max Moritz, Nejem Raheem, Todd Sanford
Filter Total Items: 15
Science and Products
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 39
A science agenda to inform natural resource management decisions in an era of ecological transformation A science agenda to inform natural resource management decisions in an era of ecological transformation
Earth is experiencing widespread ecological transformation in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems that is attributable to directional environmental changes, especially intensifying climate change. To better steward ecosystems facing unprecedented and lasting change, a new management paradigm is forming, supported by a decision-oriented framework that presents three distinct...
Authors
Shelley Crausbay, Helen Sofaer, Amanda Cravens, Brian Chaffin, Katherine Clifford, John Gross, Corrine Knapp, David Lawrence, Dawn Magness, Abraham Miller-Rushing, Gregor Schuurman, Camille Stevens-Rumann
Responding to ecological transformation: Mental models, external constraints, and manager decision-making Responding to ecological transformation: Mental models, external constraints, and manager decision-making
Ecological transformation creates many challenges for public natural resource management and requires managers to grapple with new relationships to change and new ways to manage it. In the context of unfamiliar trajectories of ecological change, a manager can resist, accept, or direct change, choices that make up the resist-accept-direct (RAD) framework. In this article, we provide a...
Authors
Katherine Clifford, Amanda Cravens, Corrine Knapp
Engaging with stakeholders to produce actionable science: A framework and guidance Engaging with stakeholders to produce actionable science: A framework and guidance
Natural and cultural resource managers are increasingly working with the scientific community to create information on how best to adapt to the current and projected impacts of climate change. Engaging with these managers is a strategy that researchers can use to ensure that scientific outputs and findings are actionable (or useful and usable). In this article, the authors adapt Davidson...
Authors
Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, Amanda Cravens, Alisa Wade, Renee McPherson
A typology of drought decision making: Synthesizing across cases to understand drought preparedness and response actions 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...
Authors
Amanda Cravens, Jennifer Henderson, Jack Friedman, Nina Burkardt, Ashley Cooper, Tonya Haigh, Michael Hayes, Jamie McEvoy, Stephanie Paladino, Adam Wilke, Hailey Wilmer
Integrating ecological impacts: Perspectives on drought in the Upper Missouri Headwaters, Montana, United States 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...
Authors
Amanda Cravens, Jamie McEvoy, Dionne Zoanni, Shelley Crausbay, Aaron Ramirez, Ashley Cooper
Assessing the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in California Assessing the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in California
With aquifers around the world stressed by over-extraction, water managers are increasingly turning to managed aquifer recharge (MAR), directly replenishing groundwater resources through injection wells, recharge basins, or other approaches. While there has been progress in understanding the geological and infrastructure-related considerations to make MAR more effective, critical...
Authors
Nicola Ulibarri, Nataly Escobedo Garcia, Rebecca Nelson, Amanda Cravens, Ryan McCarty
Resist-accept-direct (RAD)-A framework for the 21st-century natural resource manager 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...
Authors
Gregor Schuurman, Cat Hawkins Hoffman, David N. Cole, David J. Lawrence, John M. Morton, Dawn Magness, Amanda Cravens, Scott Covington, Robin O'Malley, Nicholas Fisichelli
Identifying characteristics of actionable science for drought planning and adaptation: Final report to the North Central Climate Adaptation 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...
Authors
Adam Wilke, Amanda Cravens
Intermountain west drought social science synthesis working group: Report to the National Climate Adaptation 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...
Authors
Adam Wilke, Amanda Cravens, Robin O’Malley
Planning for ecological drought: Integrating ecosystem services and vulnerability assessment 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...
Authors
Nejem Raheem, Amanda Cravens, Molly Cross, Shelley Crausbay, Aaron Ramirez, Jamie McEvoy, Dionne Zoanni, Deborah Bathke, Michael Hayes, Shawn Carter, Madeleine Rubenstein, Ann Schwend, Kimberly Hall, Paul Suberu
How and why Upper Colorado River Basin land, water, and fire managers choose to use drought tools (or not) 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...
Authors
Amanda Cravens
Rivers are social–ecological systems: Time to integrate human dimensions into riverscape ecology and management 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...
Authors
Jason Dunham, Paul Angermeier, Shelley Crausbay, Amanda Cravens, Hannah Gosnell, Jamie McEvoy, Max Moritz, Nejem Raheem, Todd Sanford
Filter Total Items: 15
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government