CSU joins regional USGS center to advance climate adaptation in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains

Colorado State University has joined the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center through a new five-year cooperative agreement. As one of nine regional climate centers, NC CASC is dedicated to assisting land and resource managers from federal, state, tribal and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations and private landowners. The center focuses on delivering actionable science to help communities in the north-central region - including Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska - adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

The NC CASC responds to increasing pressures on the region's landscapes, wildlife and cultural resources due to rising temperatures and extreme events. It helps decision-makers implement sustainable, science-based solutions integrating climate data with local needs.

CSU will play a significant role in the NC CASC consortium, which is led by the University of Colorado Boulder CIRES and includes the Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, the University of Montana, South Dakota State University and the University of Wyoming.

"Being part of the CASC is an enormous opportunity to strengthen our research partnerships, increase impact with land managers and communities, and pursue innovative research at the nexus of climate adaptation science and practice," said CSU Professor Courtney Schultz, lead of the CSU Climate Adaptation Partnership.

This new agreement positions CSU and its partners to advance research that empowers communities to tackle today's environmental challenges and build resilience for the future.