Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

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Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

USGS-university partnership that develops climate adaptation solutions with SW partners.

The Southwest Climate Science Center (SW CSC) was established in 2011 to provide objective scientific information, tools, and techniques that land, water, wildlife, and cultural resource managers and other interested parties can apply to anticipate, monitor, and adapt to climate change impacts in the southwestern United States. The SW CSC is one of eight regional Climate Science Centers managed by

the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center. The SW CSC is a collaborative partnership among USGS scientists, resource management agencies, and a consortium of six academic institutions from across the region - University of Arizona, UCLA, UC Davis, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Desert Research Institute, and CU Boulder. One of the greatest strengths of the SW CSC is the expertise provided by the program’s numerous partners and affiliate institutions

06/01/2026

Wildfire Awareness Month may be over, but wildfire risk is a year-round reality. 🔥

In a recent study funded in part by the Southwest CASC, researchers examined the atmospheric conditions that fueled one of the most destructive fires in California history: the 2025 Los Angeles urban firestorm. Because urban fire events are likely to increase under warming conditions, understanding how climate dynamics contribute to large-scale fires is crucial for improving fire-weather forecasting and community preparedness.

🔗 To learn more about wildfire research, check out the links in our bio.

Image credit: Adobe Stock, Pexels, and USGS

05/06/2026

Check out the latest episodes of the Come Rain or Shine Podcast! In April, we spoke with Dr. Camille Stevens-Rumann at Colorado State University about wildfire and post-fire recovery, and this month we talked with USGS Geographer Roy Petrakis about a collaborative Gila River riparian restoration project, in partnership with the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Link in bio!

04/03/2026

This could be you! 🔔 Just ONE☝️WEEK left to apply for our Natural Resource Workforce Development (NRWD) Fellowship!! We encourage applicants from a broad range of disciplines.

Join the 2026-27 NRWD cohort to travel, work with other graduate students, and learn from science professionals.

➡️Apply by April 10: https://swcasc.arizona.edu/nrwd-fellowship

03/16/2026

📣APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN! We are currently accepting applications for the Natural Resource Workforce Development (NRWD) Fellowship 2026-27 cohort.

This fellowship provides graduate students* with training and experience in developing actionable science to inform natural resource management. The 2026-27 cohort will focus on Cloud Seeding – fellows will work together to synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding cloud seeding, clarify its role in southwestern water issues, and provide insight on how it can be used effectively.

Funding for NRWD fellows includes a $9,000 stipend and travel costs covered for cohort meetings. Deadline to apply is April 10, 2026.

➡️ Learn more and apply here: https://buff.ly/WBwHSCF

*Eligibility: This opportunity is open to graduate students at the seven SW CASC consortium institutions (UofA, NAU, USU, UNLV, UCLA, UC Davis, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego).

03/11/2026

What happens when the Southwest’s lifeline starts running low? 🌵💧

The Colorado River stretches over 1,450 miles from the Rockies to the Gulf of California, delivering water to more than 40 million people. It provides hydroelectric power, irrigates farmland, supports a thriving recreation economy, and sustains habitat for thousands of plant and wildlife species.

But rising temperatures are changing the timing and amount of snowmelt that feeds the river, worsening drought conditions and lowering reservoir levels. Over time, less water becomes available for the communities, ecosystems, and economies that depend on its steady flow.

For more than a decade, Climate Adaptation Science Centers have partnered with resource managers across the basin to better understand these changes and support adaptation strategies.

🔗 Read more about CASC-supported research across the Colorado River Basin: https://buff.ly/5VbAfPQ

02/24/2026

National Invasive Species Awareness Week is here! Unfortunately, so are these river invaders...🐟

Invasive smallmouth bass are threatening one of the most beloved ecosystems in the country, the Grand Canyon. The good news is that USGS science is helping managers make informed decisions to combat new invasions and create positive, lasting change.

🔗Learn more about smallmouth bass research: https://buff.ly/iYzmpyf

02/04/2026

Join us as we kick off the 2026 Tribal Community Resilience Webinar series tomorrow, February 5th, at 12pm PST!

We'll hear from Ryan Swazo-Hinds, Director for the Pueblo of Tesuque Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) about data protection and security for Tribal Nations.

🔗For more information, visit https://swcasc.arizona.edu/tribal-community-resilience-webinar-series and see below! Register for one or all webinars in the series at http://bit.ly/4r7HmXR !

📆 Webinars will be held on the first Thursday of each month through September, unless otherwise indicated. *Note that PT and Arizona time are currently the same. Hope to see you there!

12/10/2025

Cutest firefighters ever?!?

In our latest episode of the Come Rain or Shine podcast, we spoke with Max Wade, the owner of Galloping Goat Grazing (), and Michael Scialdone, Bosque Project Manager with the Pueblo of Sandia Environment Department, about how utilizing goats for targeted grazing can help reduce wildfire risk through brush control. Learn more and listen to the episode at the link below!

https://bit.ly/4rwes3T

11/05/2025

Our popular “Come Rain or Shine” is back after a brief hiatus, and we’ve just released a new episode today!

We chatted with Dr. Charlie Clements, who leads the Great Basin Rangeland Research Unit at the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Dr. Clements and his team conduct research on the restoration of ecologically threatened rangelands and advancements in sustainable agriculture. Charlie discussed ways to control , a harmful that increases risk.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4hGJAcg

11/04/2025

🌟 Join our friends at the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center for their upcoming webinar this Wednesday!

Title: "Sharing Your Science with the Media to Highlight its Value to the Public"

🗓️ When: Wednesday, November 5th, 2:00 p.m. PT

🎤 Allison Agsten, Director of the USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication, will offer steps for effectively sharing your stories with the public as an engaged scientist!

Learn how to:
1️⃣ Find the story in your research
2️⃣ Connect with media contacts
3️⃣ Pitch your story
4️⃣ Prepare for an interview

Register Now: https://buff.ly/cyt0CPW

This webinar is co-hosted by the NW CASC and the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group.

Address

1064 E Lowell Street
Tucson, AZ
85719

Website

http://www.swcsc.arizona.edu/

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