2024–2025 National Ecological Drought Webinar Series

Ecological Drought: What We Have Learned and Where We Are Going

Thursday, October 10, 2024, 3–4 p.m. ET/1–2 p.m. MT/ 9 –10 a.m. Hawaii

Introducing ecological drought as a scientific concept distinct from other definitions of drought, this webinar explored recent advances on the topic, including transformational drought, drought vulnerabilities, and understanding the future of low-flows.

Presentations and Speakers: 

• Drought as an emergent driver of ecological transformation in the twenty-first century 
  • Wynne E. Moss, USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
• A flexible data-driven approach to crafting drought vulnerability assessments for adaptation planning
  • Shelley Crausbay, USDA Forest Service
• What goes with the flow: A review of linkages between climate change, low-flows, water quality, and instream flow management response across the United States
  • Charlotte Lee, North Carolina State University, USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

View Webinar Recap

Ecological Drought: Future of Aquatic Flows 

November 4, 2024, 3–4 p.m. ET/1–2 p.m. MT/ 9 –10 a.m. Hawaii

This webinar explored how climate change is altering aquatic flows in streams and rivers across the country. Implications of how the nexus of climate and aquatic flows may impact aquatic ecosystem management were also discussed. Presenters also shared findings from the 2022–2024 Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows cohort.

Presentation and Speakers:

• Overview of the USGS Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program
  • Jackson Valler, USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC)
• Exploring Changes in the Freshwater/Saltwater Interface and Its Impacts to Aquatic Species
  • Charlotte Lee, North Carolina State University, USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center
• Topic Modeling of the Spatiotemporal Interlinkages of Socio-Environmental Challenges Facing the Mississippi River Basin
  • Jay Wimhurst, University of Oklahoma
• Understanding the Impacts of Drought Conditions, Land Use, and Disturbances on the Spatiotemporal Variation in Water Quality of the Upper Colorado River
  • Jenny Pensky, University of Colorado, Boulder

View Webinar Recap

Ecological Drought: Collaborative Planning, Response, and Decision-Making - Part 1

February 2025. Time TBD.

This webinar will focus on research and tools to improve our understanding and management of drought risk in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to inform more deliberate and expanded decision-making that supports sustainable, healthy, and resilient ecosystems. Research findings from the Fiscal Year 2022 Coping with Drought competitions on Ecological Drought and Building Tribal Drought Resilience will be shared.

Ecological Drought: Collaborative Planning, Response, and Decision-Making - Part 2

March 2025. Time TBD.

This webinar will focus on research and tools to improve our understanding and management of drought risk in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to inform more deliberate and expanded decision-making that supports sustainable, healthy, and resilient ecosystems. Research findings from the Fiscal Year 2022 Coping with Drought competitions on Ecological Drought and Building Tribal Drought Resilience will be shared.

Ecological Drought: Integrating Ecological Drought into Restoration Efforts  

April 2025. Time TBD.

This webinar will focus on ecological drought research and collaborative efforts to inform terrestrial and coastal restoration efforts.