Molly McCormick
Connecting state-of-the-art science with today's land management challenges.
Biography
My work includes an understanding of complex human and natural systems, the importance of relationships between people and place, and recognition of the policies and social structures that shape our work. As an ecologist, I am interested in the function and restoration of desert ecosystems: grasslands, scrublands, and woodlands. I work on disturbances created by drought, fire, invasive species, mining and energy development, and other types of land use. I like to take a pro-active approach to disturbance and support strategic development and restoration, as water-limited ecosystems (a.k.a. deserts) are costly and difficult to restore. This work is important as degraded deserts create human health risks, increase chance of catastrophic fire, and loss of habitat which affects species of concern and working landscapes. I am the coordinator of the Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS) where I collaborate with mulitiple stakeholders to develop creative solutions to complex environmental issues.
I currently sit as the USGS federal liaison for the Plant Conservation Alliance.
Education
M.S. Environmental Science and Policy, Northern Arizona Unviersity, Flagstaff, AZ, May 2017
Studies in Western Herbal Medicine Certificate, Charles Kane, Tucson, AZ 2014
Permaculture Design Certificate, Sonoran Permaculture Guilde, Tucson, AZ, April 2013
B.A.S. Southwest Studies, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO, May 2003
Interests
Plant Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Dryland Ecology, Restoration Ecology, Soil Erosion, Social-Ecological Systems, Stakeholder Engagement
Relevant Past Positions
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 2015-2017
Graduate Teaching Assistant for Environmental Programs
Friends of the Verde River Greenway, Cottonwood, AZ 2015-2017
Restoration Ecologist, Co-manager Verde Native Seed Coop
Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon, AZ 2013-2017
Biological Science Technician (Intermittent)
Oak Creek Watershed Council, Sedona, AZ 2016
Urban Restoration Ecologist, Green Infrastructure and Low-Impact Design
Borderlands Restoration, Patagonia, AZ 2013-2015
Restoration Ecologist, Outreach Coordinator, Native Plant Farmer
Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon, AZ 2010-2013
Volunteer Plant Biologist
Grand Canyon Trust, Flagstaff, AZ 2010-2012
Budding Botanist Volunteer
Grand Canyon Hikes and Adventure Vista, Flagstaff, AZ 2003-2006
Grand Canyon Hiking Guide
Wolf Creek Anglers, South Fork, CO 2003
Fly Fishing Guide
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 2000
Biological Science Technician, Grand Canyon Fisheries
Science and Products
Ecological Forecasting Workshop
Natural resource managers are coping with rapid changes in both environmental conditions and ecosystems. Enabled by recent advances in data collection and assimilation, short-term ecological forecasting may be a powerful tool to help resource managers anticipate impending changes in ecosystem dynamics (that is, the approaching near-term changes in ecosystems). Managers may use the information...
Best Management Practices
Best management practices (BMPs) can be used to help prevent the spread of invasive species and help mitigate the consequences of invasive species once they have become established. BMPs provide a framework for natural resource managers to follow to effectively deal with, and prevent the spread of, invasive species.
RestoreNet: Distributed Field Trial Network for Dryland Restoration
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers and land managers are co-producing a network of restoration field trial sites on DOI and surrounding lands in the southwestern U.S. The network systematically tests restoration treatments across a broad range of landscape, soil, and climate conditions. Each site in the network is used to test suitable seed mixes and treatments that promote plant...
Southwest Energy Development and Drought (SWEDD)
Deserts of the southwestern US are replete with oil and gas deposits as well as sites for solar, wind, and geothermal energy production. In the past, many of these resources have been too expensive to develop, but increased demand and new technologies have led to an increase in exploration and development. However, desert ecosystems generally have low resilience to disturbance. More frequent,...
RAMPS: Restoration Assessment & Monitoring Program for the Southwest
The Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS) seeks to assist U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and other land management agencies in developing successful techniques for improving land condition in dryland ecosystems of the southwestern United States. Invasion by non-native species, wildfire, drought, and other disturbances are growing...
Ecological forecasting—21st century science for 21st century management
Natural resource managers are coping with rapid changes in both environmental conditions and ecosystems. Enabled by recent advances in data collection and assimilation, short-term ecological forecasting may be a powerful tool to help resource managers anticipate impending near-term changes in ecosystem conditions or dynamics. Managers may use the...
Bradford, John B.; Weltzin, Jake F.; Mccormick, Molly; Baron, Jill; Bowen, Zack; Bristol, Sky; Carlisle, Daren; Crimmins, Theresa; Cross, Paul; DeVivo, Joe; Dietze, Mike; Freeman, Mary; Goldberg, Jason; Hooten, Mevin; Hsu, Leslie; Jenni, Karen; Keisman, Jennifer; Kennen, Jonathan; Lee, Kathy; Lesmes, David; Loftin, Keith; Miller, Brian W.; Murdoch, Peter; Newman, Jana; Prentice, Karen L.; Rangwala, Imtiaz; Read, Jordan; Sieracki, Jennifer; Sofaer, Helen; Thur, Steve; Toevs, Gordon; Werner, Francisco; White, C. LeAnn; White, Timothy; Wiltermuth, Mark
RestoreNet: An emerging restoration network reveals controls on seeding success across dryland ecosystems
1. Drylands are Earth’s largest terrestrial biome and support one third of the global population. However, they are also highly vulnerable to land degradation. Despite widespread demand for dryland restoration and rehabilitation, little information is available to help land managers effectively reestablish native perennial vegetation across...
Havrilla, Caroline Ann; Munson, Seth M.; Mccormick, Molly; Laushman, Katherine Mary; Balazs, Kathleen R.; Butterfield, Bradley J. Beyond traditional ecological restoration on the Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is one of North America's five major deserts, encompassing 340,000 km2 of the western U.S., and offering many opportunities for restoration relevant to researchers and land managers in drylands around the globe. The Colorado Plateau is comprised of vast tracts of public land managed by local, state, and federal agencies...
Winkler, Daniel E.; Backer, Dana M.; Belnap, Jayne; Bradford, John B.; Butterfield, Bradley J.; Copeland, Stella M.; Duniway, Michael C.; Faist, Akasha M.; Fick, Stephen E.; Jensen, Scott L.; Kramer, Andrea T.; Mann, Rebecca; Massatti, Robert; McCormick, Molly L.; Munson, Seth M.; Olwell, Peggy; Parr, Steve D.; Pfennigwerth, Alix; Pilmanis, Adrienne M.; Richardson, Bryce A.; Samuel, Ella; See, Kathy; Young, Kristina E.; Reed, Sasha C.
RAMPS Newsletter - Summer 2020 Edition
This season's edition of the Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest Newsletter contains recent program highlights including research updates, new projects, field updates and more.
To subscribe to our newsletter, please visit: ...
National Seed Strategy Progress Report
Stay tuned for more on the National Seed Strategy Progress Report. The reporting portal is now closed. For more information, contact Molly McCormick mmccormick@usgs.gov
RESEARCH BRIEF: RestoreNet Report Card
RestoreNet is a networked ecological experiment testing restoration treatments across the arid Southwest. Seven experimental sites were installed in the Summer of 2018 on the rangelands of Northern Arizona. The experiments tested seed mixes with various treatments to increase revegetation success (see photos above). These are the results after the first year.
Read more about...
RAMPS Newsletter - Spring 2020 Edition
This season's edition of the Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest Newsletter contains recent program highlights including research updates from our RestoreNet experiment, recently awarded funding, field updates and more.
To subscribe to our newsletter, please visit: ...