Modeling streamflow is an important approach for understanding landscape-scale drivers of flow and estimating flows where there are no streamgage records. In this study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with Colorado State University, the objectives were to model streamflow metrics on small, ungaged streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin and identify streams that are potentially threatened with becoming intermittent under drier climate conditions.
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LCCs have produced a wealth of informational documents, reports, fact sheets, webinars and more to help support resource managers in designing and delivering conservation at landscape scales.
Our objective was to model intermittency (perennial, weakly intermittent, or strongly intermittent) on small, ungaged streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Modeling streamflows is an important tool for understanding landscape-scale drivers of flow and estimating flows where there are no gaged records.
Our objective was to model mean annual number of zero-flow days (days per year) for small streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin under historic hydrologic conditions on small, ungaged streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Modeling streamflows is an important tool for understanding landscape-scale drivers of flow and estimating flows where there are no gaged records. We focused our study in the Upper Colorado River Basin, a region that is not only critical for water resources but also projected to experience large future climate shifts toward a drier climate.
Our objective was to model minimum flow coefficient of variation (CV) on small, ungaged streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Modeling streamflows is an important tool for understanding landscape-scale drivers of flow and estimating flows where there are no gaged records. We focused our study in the Upper Colorado River Basin, a region that is not only critical for water resources but also projected to experience large future climate shifts toward a drier climate.
Our objective was to model specific mean daily flow (mean daily flow divided by drainage area [cubic feet per second per square mile]) on small, ungaged streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Modeling streamflows is an important tool for understanding landscape-scale drivers of flow and estimating flows where there are no gaged records.
Estimation of connectivity for multiple species could increase the efficiency of resource management and elucidate trade-offs among maintenance of connectivity for different taxa. We identified potential areas of high connectivity for 5 species of mammals on the Navajo Nation and adjacent lands in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, USA: mountain lion (Puma concolor), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), American black bear (Ursus americanus), and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana).
Streamflows in late spring and summer have declined over the last century in the western U.S. and mean annual streamflow is projected to decrease by six to 25% over the next 100 years. In arid and semi-arid regions of the western US, it is likely that some perennial streams will shift to intermittent flow regimes in response to climate-driven changes in timing and magnitude of precipitation, runoff, and evaporation.
The project will address the following two research question:
Without reliable spatial data for wetland and riparian areas, it is impossible for land managers to accurately assess the distribution of critical aquatic habitats and model potential impacts caused by climate change. Wetlands in the Southern Rockies are particularly important for wildlife habitat, as they are often far more productive than the surrounding uplands. In addition, wetlands are an integral component of regional hydrologic cycles through their role in flood abatement, storm water retention, groundwater recharge, and water quality improvement.
Without reliable spatial data for wetland and riparian areas, it is impossible for land managers to accurately assess the distribution of critical aquatic habitats and model potential impacts caused by climate change. Wetlands in the Southern Rockies are particularly important for wildlife habitat, as they are often far more productive than the surrounding uplands. In addition, wetlands are an integral component of regional hydrologic cycles through their role in flood abatement, storm water retention, groundwater recharge, and water quality improvement.
Our objective was to model 7-day minimum flow (mean of the annual minimums of a 7-day moving average for each year [cubic feet per second]) on small, ungaged streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Modeling streamflows is an important tool for understanding landscape-scale drivers of flow and estimating flows where there are no gaged records. We focused our study in the Upper Colorado River Basin, a region that is not only critical for water resources but also projected to experience large future climate shifts toward a drier climate.
Our objective was to model frequency of low-pulse events on small, ungaged streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Modeling streamflows is an important tool for understanding landscape-scale drivers of flow and estimating flows where there are no gaged records. We focused our study in the Upper Colorado River Basin, a region that is not only critical for water resources but also projected to experience large future climate shifts toward a drier climate.
Our objective was to model specific minimum flow (mean of the annual minimum flows divided by drainage area [cubic feet per second per square mile]) on small, ungaged streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Modeling streamflows is an important tool for understanding landscape-scale drivers of flow and estimating flows where there are no gaged records. We focused our study in the Upper Colorado River Basin, a region that is not only critical for water resources but also projected to experience large future climate shifts toward a drier climate.
An estimated value for the ability of managers to dirct actions to protect, restore, or mitigate species and habitats. We recognize that our preliminary estimates are arbitrary and fairly approximate, but argue that making these explicit within a framework will enable stakeholders and managers to conduct subsequent analyses to better support their decision making.
Arithmetic mean of the rank values of sensitivity and exposure variables.
Arithmetic mean of the rank values of sensitivity and exposure variables.
Arithmetic mean of the rank values of sensitivity and exposure variables.
We represent vulnerability as matrix that relates impacts with adaptive capacity. Vulnerability is high when impact is high and adaptive capacity is low. Vulnerability is moderate when either the impact is high and adaptive capacity is high, or if impact is low and adaptive capacity is low. Vulnerability is low when impact is low and adaptive capacity is high.
An estimated value for the ability of managers to dirct actions to protect, restore, or mitigate species and habitats. We recognize that our preliminary estimates are arbitrary and fairly approximate, but argue that making these explicit within a framework will enable stakeholders and managers to conduct subsequent analyses to better support their decision making.
We represent vulnerability as matrix that relates impacts with adaptive capacity. Vulnerability is high when impact is high and adaptive capacity is low. Vulnerability is moderate when either the impact is high and adaptive capacity is high, or if impact is low and adaptive capacity is low. Vulnerability is low when impact is low and adaptive capacity is high.
An estimated value for the ability of managers to dirct actions to protect, restore, or mitigate species and habitats. We recognize that our preliminary estimates are arbitrary and fairly approximate, but argue that making these explicit within a framework will enable stakeholders and managers to conduct subsequent analyses to better support their decision making.
We represent vulnerability as matrix that relates impacts with adaptive capacity. Vulnerability is high when impact is high and adaptive capacity is low. Vulnerability is moderate when either the impact is high and adaptive capacity is high, or if impact is low and adaptive capacity is low. Vulnerability is low when impact is low and adaptive capacity is high.
Arithmetic mean of the rank values of sensitivity and exposure variables.
Oyster reefs provide environmental and economic services within the coastal regions of the United States. Mapping the extent of these reefs and analyzing their composition can be highly beneficial for oyster management and restoration projects. The objectives of this research project included examining the feasibility of the use of low-cost side-scanning sonar (LC-SSS) systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for mapping intertidal oyster reefs at selected sites within the Galveston Bay system, Texas.
The model was acquired from Tyler Wagner (U.S. Geological Survey) (DeWeber & Wagner, 2014). Model outputs were composed of Ecological Drainage Units (EDUs), each of which was assigned a resulting mean predicted occurrence probability. The study region was determined by the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV) and represents the native range of the species on the East Coast. The polygons of interest were derived from the NHD plus dataset, with local catchments located at least 90% within the study region boundary.
Hellbender presence data was acquired from NatureServe and limited to points dating from 1980 to the present, with individual points adapted from the available data. Geospatial data was acquired from the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Land Cover Database (NLCD) and the Horizon Systems Corporation National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Version 2. The study was conducted over the extent of the Appalachian LCC. Environmental variables of consideration were determined through literature review and expert advice on the species (Personal correspondence, Quinn, 2009).
The model for golden-winged warbler was acquired from Dolly Crawford (Ashland University), which was included in Chapter 3 of the 2012 conservation plan (Roth et al., 2012). Model was composed of cells of predicted Golden-Winged Warbler occurrence across the study region. The study region was determined by the expert opinion derived by the technical team regarding the core breeding populations of Golden-Winged Warbler presence and assigned to the Great Lakes Conservation Region and Appalachian Conservation Region.
This project will conduct a synthesis of marine spatial data. An OPS staff will be hired to work with marine/coastal experts – to develop a Technical Advisory Group and gather data and input on the processes used in the marine assessment. Additionally, this project will identify key inland (terrestrial and freshwater) areas that currently have or may have in the future direct and indirect impacts on the health of the marine environment.
The US FWS Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge is associated with a Lower Wabash River LCD team exploring voluntary conservation on public and private lands in a region with fairly cohesive ecology, issues and practices in mixed habitat types of uplands, wetlands and floodplain forest in the mainstem and headwaters along the Lower Wabash River in two states: south of Terre Haute, IN; the Eel River & Lower White River below the confluence with the Wabash River in Indiana; and the Little Wabash and Fox Rivers below Highway 50 in Illinois.
FISHTAIL: A decision support mapper for conserving stream fish habitats of the Northeast Climate Science Center (NECSC) region, extended to the Mississippi Basin for use in conservation planning applications such as the Gulf Hypoxia Initiative.
Assessing current and future condition of fluvial habitats
Improved Gulf Hypoxia Planning Tool: Landscape scale planning tools focus conservation priorities through a series of region-specific lenses. These tools include: CHAT; SECAS; Gulf Hypoxia Initiative - Precision Conservation Blueprint v1.5; and landscape designs developed by the Great Plains LCC and Gulf Coast Prairie LCC.
Improved Gulf Hypoxia Planning Tool: Landscape scale planning tools focus conservation priorities through a series of region-specific lenses. These tools include: CHAT; SECAS; Gulf Hypoxia Initiative - Precision Conservation Blueprint v1.5; and landscape designs developed by the Great Plains LCC and Gulf Coast Prairie LCC.
Improved Gulf Hypoxia Planning Tool: Landscape scale planning tools focus conservation priorities through a series of region-specific lenses. These tools include: CHAT; SECAS; Gulf Hypoxia Initiative - Precision Conservation Blueprint v1.5; and landscape designs developed by the Great Plains LCC and Gulf Coast Prairie LCC.
The documents attached below are supplementary materials for case studies on CCAST.
In collaboration with the staff, members and partners of the Caribbean
Landscape Conservation Cooperative (CLCC), SustainaMetrix conducted
a process to assemble the foundation of an ecosystem governance
knowledge base over the past 11 months. The CLCC includes the
terrestrial and marine components of the Puerto Rican archipelago and
the US Virgin Islands. The purpose of an ecosystem governance
knowledge base was to contribute to the early stage development of
the CLCC with a brief analysis of pressing issues, governance contexts,
The potential ecological and economic effects of climate change for tropical islands were studied using output from 12 statistically downscaled general circulation models (GCMs) taking Puerto Rico as a test case. Two model selection/model averaging strategies were used: the average of all available GCMs and the average of the models that are able to reproduce the observed large-scale dynamics that control precipitation over the Caribbean. Five island-wide and multidecadal averages of daily precipitation and temperature were
The conservation community of the Caribbean can feel small, at times, or as vast as the ocean that surrounds us. In a growingly complex world of environmental and social obstacles it is imperative to work collaboratively across ecosystems, scales, disciplines and methodologies. Protecting natural and cultural resources is essential to sustaining our health and quality of life. People, along with the fish and wildlife, rely on clean water and the benefits of healthy rivers, streams, wetlands, forests, grasslands, coasts, coral reefs, estuaries and oceans in order to thrive.
The conservation community of the Caribbean can feel small, at times, or as vast as the ocean that surrounds us. In a growingly complex world of environmental and social obstacles it is imperative to work collaboratively across ecosystems, scales, disciplines and methodologies. Protecting natural and cultural resources is essential to sustaining our health and quality of life. People, along with the fish and wildlife, rely on clean water and the benefits of healthy rivers, streams, wetlands, forests, grasslands, coasts, coral reefs, estuaries and oceans in order to thrive.
Bats play an important role in stabilizing ecosystems by the various ecological functions they provide (Kunz et al., 2011). Mangroves, as well as marshes and estuaries, are productive ecosystems that often provide resources for terrestrial and aquatic organisms, but are vulnerable to human disturbance and sea-level rise, which may eliminate critical habitat for bats.
Over the last 75 years, Puerto Rico transformed from an agricultural economy to an
industrialized economy and now faces economic stagnation. These transitions have direct
implications for Puerto Rico’s environment, water resources, and the health of its population.
The island of Puerto Rico is 8,700 square kilometers, made up of 78 municipios (municipalities)
with a population of 3,548,397 people, and rapidly declining.1,2 Puerto Rico’s geography and
geology present a diverse set of challenges to meet the water demands of its people and ensure
The Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative (CLCC) recently completed the CLCC Science Strategy: Mission Alignment to outline shared conservation values among CLCC partner entities. After meeting this important benchmark, Steering Committee (SC) members and outside reviewers suggested that the CLCC adopt a structured approach for integrating shared values and providing greater context and guidance for Science Strategy planning and implementation.
This appendix presents detailed proceedings of the Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative (CLCC): Deriving Shared Objectives Workshop held on June 3-4, 2015 and June 9-10, 2015 (hereafter referred to as the “CLCC SDM Workshop”).
CLCC SDM Workshop discussions and products for each of the four days are summarized below. Detailed information can also be found on the workshop webpage at the CLCC website (click here).
cut and paste abstract here
As a USFWS Fellow, I worked with Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative (CLCC) staff, USFWS Ecological Services (ES) staff, US Forest Service to (1) develop and implement an acoustic monitoring network to assess native bat habitat use in Puerto Rico and (2) assist in creating an acoustic database structure the existing CLCC web –based data portal to form a base for developing a wider acoustic monitoring program.
Desert LCC Base Maps and Data describe the physical and cultural geography of the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative. These products include the Desert LCC vector boundary available as a shapefile and KML, as well as print-quality graphic design files for thematic maps including Watersheds, Land Cover, Vegetation and a Base Map. The scale of the maps is 1:2,500,000.
About the Desert LCC Region:
DLCC’s Vegetation Map Pilot is a project envisioned initially as a supervised classification of two or three small areas of the DLCC. DLCC technical stakeholders advised changing from a supervised classification to an object oriented classification (OOC) method.
Data layers pertaining to habitats in the Mississippi River Basin (e.g., wetlands, and historic and presettlement vegetation) intended to support development of the Multi-LCC Mississippi River Basin/Gulf Hypoxia Initiative's Conservation Blueprint.
Base data layers (e.g., land cover, imagery and boundaries.) intended to orient users of the Multi-LCC Mississippi River Basin/Gulf Hypoxia Initiative's Conservation Blueprint.
Implementation opportunities on agricultural lands identified by the Multi-LCC Mississippi River Basin/Gulf Hypoxia Initiative that may benefit wildlife, water quality, and agriculture.
Data layers related to production systems (i.e., Corn/Soybeans, Cotton, Rice, Grazing Lands, and Bottomland/Floodplain Forest) as defined for use by the Multi-LCC Mississippi River Basin/Gulf Hypoxia Initiative.