Ecological Drought in the Northwest United States

Ecological drought in the Northwest United States newsletterThe Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers (CSCs) have chosen the emerging climate science field of Ecological Drought as a research focus area. This newsletter highlights the outcomes of two, one-day workshops sponsored by the Northwest CSC held in Portland, OR, and Boise, ID, as part of a series of meetings held at each of the nation's eight CSCs. The threat of ecological drought in the Northwest United States has the potential to result in major ecological, social, and economic impacts. The diverse ecosystems of the Northwest are shaped by unique topography and weather patterns, and each landscape is threatened by ecological drought on a local and regional level. As climate change influences temperature, precipitation, and circulation patterns within the region, drought conditions may become more prevalent across the region, further stressing the ability of managers to conserve or restore these unique ecosystems.