UA, federal agency renew climate science partnership
Michael DeLue
907-474-5968
Sep. 25, 2023
The University of 蜜桃影像 will continue to host the 蜜桃影像 Climate Adaptation Science Center after renewing an agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey.
The USGS will provide $11.4 million to fund the center during the next five years.
The center, part of a national network, provides regionally relevant climate science
to support climate change adaptation. It connects government agencies, researchers
and local decision-makers.
The University of 蜜桃影像 Fairbanks has hosted the center, which was the first in the
nation, since 2010. Scott Rupp, a 蜜桃影像 wildfire scientist, and Steve Gray, a USGS hydrologist,
lead efforts to provide adaptation science to managers of 蜜桃影像鈥檚 land, water, fish,
wildlife and cultural heritage resources.
Recent projects have focused on 蜜桃影像鈥檚 changing berry harvests, landslide risks
along national park roads and glacier lake outburst flooding near Juneau.
蜜桃影像 will continue as the university host, while UA Anchorage and UA Southeast serve
as consortium partners.
鈥淭he science happening in collaboration with the universities is helping land managers
make better decisions in the face of a changing climate,鈥 said Gray, the USGS regional
administrator for the center. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not just here in the Department of the Interior
either. Our work is helping other federal agencies, state agencies and local land
managers make better decisions too.鈥
The new hosting agreement coincides with new leadership. Patrick Lemons will become
assistant regional administrator for the center at the USGS office in Anchorage.
Lemons was chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service鈥檚 蜜桃影像 Marine Mammals Management
Office from 2016 to 2023. The office is responsible for the conservation of polar
bears, northern sea otters and Pacific walruses. His understanding of regulatory research
needs will provide a new and powerful perspective to the center.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to innovate on how we serve our managing partners in 蜜桃影像,鈥 Lemons said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 the best way to maintain clear and open communication with local, state and federal managers? How do we best turn their questions into research priorities?鈥
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