The SW CASC is hosted by the University of Arizona. Other consortium members include: Colorado State University, Desert Research Institute, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California at San Diego, University of California-Davis, University of California-Los Angeles, and Utah State University.
The consortium of fourteen co-investigators continue to address the science research themes of climate science and forecasting, hydroclimate and water availability, ecological responses and vulnerabilities in order to contribute to create better informational exchange practices.
Each CASC is a formal collaboration between the USGS, a regional host university, and a multi-institution partner consortium. Through this agreement, the host and consortium institutions undertake a number of activities, including conducting research science projects, supporting fellows and engaging with resource management partners. To learn more about the work of the Southwest CASC, visit: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/.
Colorado State University (CSU) is a land grant institution and leader in research, service, education, and extension. CSU SW CASC co-PIs have connections with the Warner College of Natural Resources (WCNR) and the Colorado Water Institute. They have strong relationships with Southwest federal, state, and municipal water managers, and a long history of collaboration with agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation. CSU’s Colorado Climate Center is a strong center for citizen-science programs (e.g., CoCoRaHS monitoring network) and CSU houses the nationally top-ranked Department of Atmospheric Science and the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.
CSU co-PI Erica Fleishman is leading the Recent Warming Initiative (see Collaborative Initiatives page) and terrestrial resources focused research (see description under UC Davis below). CSU co-PI Brad Udall, with partner Julie Vano (NCAR), is designing a web-based platform where:
-
The newest Colorado River research is summarized and shared
-
The activities of the research community are made more visible
-
Important datasets and tools are made more accessible
-
Contributions can be made by the community and ownership is shared
-
Advances in science are given context so they have more value to non-specialists (e.g., agency staff, congressional staffers, 1st year grad students, journalists)
The design and content is being informed by a series of interviews with stakeholders engaged in Colorado River science and management from federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, universities, water utilities, and boundary organizations (i.e., from those who will be using the product).
