Come Rain or Shine
This podcast is a collaborative product of the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, Ecoimpact Solutions, and New Mexico State University. We highlight stories to share the most recent advances in climate science, weather and climate adaptation, and innovative practices to support resilient landscapes and communities. We believe that sharing forward-thinking and creative climate science and adaptation solutions will strengthen our collective ability to respond to even the most challenging impacts of climate variability in one of the hottest and driest regions of the world. Sign up for email alerts and never miss an episode: https://forms.gle/7zkjrjghEBLrGf8Z9. Funding f...
Rangeland Restoration in the Great Basin
Dr. Charlie Clements leads the Great Basin Rangeland Research Unit of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service, where he conducts research on the restoration of ecologically threatened rangelands. He and his team aim to conserve and enhance sustainable agricultural production, natural resources and communities. He also explores science-based solutions to reduce the spread of harmful invasive species in the region, especially cheatgrass (also called brome.)
Relevant links: Check out this video produced by the USDA-ARS, where Charlie talks more about stopping the spread of cheatgrass, and why it’s important.
...
Beekeeping Program at Institute of American Indian Arts
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, three fourths of the world's flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world's food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. We interviewed Melanie Kirby and Davon Collins to learn more about the beekeping program at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM.
Relevant Links:
IAIA’s Beekeeping Journey
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Celebrating Milestones: 10 Years of Supporting Resilience
This month we are celebrating major milestones and want to share those with you. The Climate Hub network just celebrated its 10 year anniversary. As part of that anniversary our partners recorded short stories about some of their favorite projects. We have compiled a selection of those for this episode to kick off the new year.
Relevant links:
USDA Climate Hubs: Stories from Our First 10 Years
USDA Climate Hubs: Celebrating 10 Years!
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Science And Practical Solutions To Support Ecological Restoration
Dr. Elise Gornish discusses her research on restoration and weed management strategies to minimize the effects of changing climatic conditions - especially warming temperatures and decreasing precipitation. Her work focuses on designing realistic restoration strategies and solutions that are both financially and logistically feasible.
Relevant links:
The Gornish Lab
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Fo...
Reforestation: The Trees Are Planted, Now What?
This is the last episode in our reforestation pipeline series. The success of a reforestation effort largely depends on proper post-planting care and monitoring. We spoke with Dr. Camille Stevens-Rumann, who studies wildfire and post-fire recovery, to learn more about what needs to happen after a tree is planted in a reforestation effort.
Relevant links:
Marshall, L.A., Fornwalt, P.J., Stevens-Rumann, C.S., Rodman, K.C., Rhoades, C.C., Zimlinghaus, K., Chapman, T.B. and Schloegel, C.A., 2023. Seedling and growing environment measurements from...
Reforestation: Plant Here, Not There
In this episode we continue our discussion of the reforestation pipeline. Last month, we discussed how reforestation efforts are critical after high severity wildfires, like the ones we have been witnessing across the Southwest. Now we sit down with two researchers who specialize in modeling to learn more about the science of choosing the right spot on the landscape for the best chances of planted seedling survival.
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Reforestation: The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center
This bonus episode is a re-release of our July 2023 episode highlighting the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center in Mora, New Mexico, which aims to advance the understanding of restoration activities on forested areas in New Mexico. The Center also provides science-based solutions for private, tribal, state, and federal forest managers, who face the threat of catastrophic fires and the inability of forest ecosystems to naturally regenerate after fires.Â
Related Links:
John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center at Mora
If you’re...
Reforestation: It All Starts With A Seed
Dr. Joshua Sloan and Rachael Foe discuss the process of conifer seed selection and harvest for reforestation efforts in the Southwest, from selecting the parent trees and scouting for good cone crops to climbing the trees and collecting cones. Did you know some forest stands only produce a viable seed crop once every decade? Learn how you could help scout for cones through a new app from the New Mexico Reforestation Center.
Relevant links:
Related podcast episode: After-Fire Reforestation: The John T...
Exploring Nature-Based Solutions
Nature-based solutions - what are they exactly? Is there a standard definition? And even though the term is new to us, are the practices themselves actually something new? In this episode we speak with Dr. Laura Norman, a Research Physical Scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, to answer these questions and more.
Relevant links:
IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions
Opportunities to Accelerate Nature-Based Solutions (2022)
Nature-Based Solutions Resource Guide 2.0 (2023)
The...
Burping Cows! Measuring Methane Emissions from Cattle
According to 2022 statistics published by the US EPA, enteric fermentation (a digestive pathway that produces gasses in the gut) by cattle accounted for around 3% of total US greenhouse gas emissions when converted to carbon dioxide equivalents. We spoke with Dr. Glenn Duff, from New Mexico State University to learn more about the research he and his team are conducting to measure gas fluxes and emissions from cattle in pursuit of improving efficiency and lowering emissions from this sector.
Relevant Links:
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer from the US EPA<...
Advancing Climate Services Across The Federal Family
Dr. Julian Reyes joins us to talk about climate services at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Julian shares how his work involves uplifting climate services across the entire federal family and finding synergies across federal agencies to maximize benefits to society. Note: at the time of this recording, Dr. Julian Reyes held the position of Assistant Director for Climate Services at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; he has since moved on to a new position with a different employer.
Relevant Links:
Climate Mapping for...
Agrivoltaics: Producing Food and Energy in the Same Place
Agrivoltaics is the combination of agriculture and photovoltaics to create co-benefits across food, energy, and water systems. There is a lot of research being conducted around the benefits and best practices for implementation of agrivoltaics. We spoke with two experts, Dr. Greg Barron-Gafford from the University of Arizona, and Dr. Brandon Bestelmeyer, research leader at the Jornada Experimental Range, to learn more about this fairly new technology.
Relevant links:
Agrisolar Clearinghouse
University of Arizona Biosphere 2 - Agrivoltaics
Jornada Experimental Range<...
Solutions for Sustaining Environmental Flows
Flows in the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico,
have dwindled from drought and rising temperatures as well as diversion for agricultural irrigation. These diminished flows threaten groundwater resources and habitat for endangered plants and animals. Paul Tashjian, Director of Freshwater Conservation with Audubon Southwest, tells us about solutions that have been implemented to alleviate pressures on the Rio Chama and other waterways, bringing back flows for the natural habitat.
Relevant Links:
Five-Year Lease of Water Rights for Environmental Flows Along the Rio Chama<...
Climate Change, Coastlines, and Aquaculture
How is climate change affecting our coasts and ocean? What about aquaculture? Halley Froehlich, an expert in climate change impacts to coasts and oceans, with a strong focus on aquaculture, joins us to discuss this important topic as we wrap up our series highlighting Key Messages in the Southwest Chapter of the 5th National Climate Assessment.
Relevant links:
Read the 5th National Climate Assessment (NCA5)
Webinars and podcasts on the NCA5
NCA5 Atlas
Fifth National Climate Assessment, Southwest Chapter: Health, Water, Agriculture, and Wildfire
We continue our discussion of the Southwest Chapter of the 5th National Climate Assessment (NCA5). Each Chapter of NCA5 is organized around Key Messages. This month we interviewed the lead authors of four Key Messages in the Southwest Chapter, covering human health, water, agriculture, and wildfire. Each author shares what they would like people to know and what they found hopeful or encouraging within their Key Message topic.
Relevant links:
Read the 5th National Climate Assessment (NCA5)
Webinars and podcasts on the NCA5
NCA5...
Inside the Fifth National Climate Assessment, Southwest Chapter
Drs. Emile Elias and Dave White discuss the Southwest chapter of the 5th National Climate Assessment (NCA5). They share what it was like to be lead authors of the Southwest chapter, what’s new in this assessment, how it’s being shared, some major findings, and other highlights. We wrap up this episode with what each of them found encouraging or hopeful from the assessment.
Relevant links:
Read the 5th National Climate Assessment (NCA5)
Webinars and podcasts on the NCA5
NC...
Harvesting Hope: Tackling Food Waste, Hunger, and Climate Change
We speak with the directors of two non-profit organizations who are turning problems into solutions by getting nutritious food that would normally go to waste back into our food system and into the hands of those who can use it - reducing waste, methane emissions, and fighting food insecurity all at the same time. Cover Image credit: USDA Photo by Lance Cheung
Relevant links:
Association of Gleaning Organizations
Falling Fruit
National Gleaning Project
Bill E...
Indigenous Agriculture and Climate Resilience
Continuing with our agriculture theme, this month we are joined by Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson (Hopi Tribe of Arizona) who discusses Indigenous agricultural knowledge, traditional farming, Indigenous participation in conservation programs, climate change, and more. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
Relevant links:
Johnson, M.K., Rowe, M. , Lien, A.M.& Hoffman-Lopez, L. 2021. Enhancing Integration of Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge into National Resource Conservation Service Cost-Share Initiatives. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. Online. https://www.jswconline.org/content/76/6/487<...
The Scoop on Kernza®, a Multi-functional Perennial Grain Crop
Kernza® is a small perennial grain with multiple environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration. We are joined by Nicole Tautges (Michael Fields Agricultural Institute) and Hana Fancher (The Land Institute) to learn more about the benefits and uses of Kernza®, as well as some of the challenges associated with growing this grain, and possible future directions. Photo credit: USDA
Relevant links:
Kernza® Coordinated Agriculture Project (CAP)
Kernza® Grower Guide
Kernza® Community Bake
<...
Old Growth Grasslands
“Old growth” is a term often associated with forests, however scientists are beginning to realize that this concept also applies to other types of ecosystems, including grasslands, which provide a host of important ecosystem services. We interviewed Dr. Katharine Suding, a researcher at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, to learn more about old growth grasslands. Image credit: USDA Photo by Lance Cheung
Relevant links:
Buisson, E., Archibald, S., Fidelis, A. and Suding, K.N., 2022. Ancient grasslands guide ambitious goals in grassland restoration
A Closer Look at California Wildfires
What’s behind the increasing size and severity of California’s wildfires? And if the trajectory continues, what does that mean for people living there? How has this trend already impacted residents? Three co-authors of a recent synthesis on drivers of wildfire in the Golden State share their main findings with us, as well as speculating on some possibilities for future solutions to living alongside increasing fire hazard. Photo credit: USDA
Related Links:
Climate Change Is Escalating California’s Wildfires
Drivers of California’s changing wildfires: a state-of...
After-Fire Reforestation: The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center
The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center in Mora, New Mexico, aims to advance the understanding of restoration activities on forested areas in New Mexico through multidisciplinary research, education, and partner collaborations. The Center also provides science-based solutions for private, tribal, state, and federal forest managers, who face the threat of catastrophic fires due to overgrown forests and the inability of post-fire forest communities and ecosystems to naturally regenerate after fires. Photo credit: Reanna Burnett
Related Links:
John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center at Mora
Cultural Burning in Northern California
Traditional burning, also known as cultural burning, is a form of under burning that has been used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years to increase water runoff into streams, create habitats for plants and animals, recycle nutrients, and promote other ecosystem benefits. We interviewed Diana Almendariz (Maidu/Wintún/Hupa/Yurok), cultural fire practitioner, and Nina Fontana (Ukrainian and Italian), post-doctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis, to learn more about "good fire".
Related Links:
Cache Creek Conservancy Tending and Gathering Garden
...
Sarah Ray on Navigating Climate Anxiety
We often talk about Climate Hope on this show, but what about Climate Anxiety? Perhaps even Climate Despair? These are very real emotions that many of us feel when thinking about this planet we call home. We sat down with Dr. Sarah Ray, author of the book A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet. Dr. Ray shared with us some of her tips and advice on navigating the complex landscape of climate change related issues, and some things she recommends for moving past the anxiety and...
Microgravity Drip Irrigation: Innovative Way to Get “More Crop Per Drop”
Water scarcity solutions, especially those solutions that allow for continued food production while reducing water use, are a critical component of coping with reduced water availability now and into the future. We interviewed Dr. Manoj Shukla about a current research project of his using microgravity drip irrigation technologies from Israel on an experimental farm in Southern New Mexico.
Related Links:
KRQE News Flash Video on YouTube
New Mexico State University Newsroom Article
If...
Biochar: Uses and Potential Benefits
We have been hearing a lot about biochar recently. Biochar is the charred material leftover after partially burning organic material, which is then used to improve soil health, remediate polluted soils, sequester carbon, and even improve soil water holding capacity and soil moisture. This month we spoke with Dr. Debbie Page-Dumerose and Dr. Nate Anderson, both with the USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, to learn more about biochar and its many uses. Episode image: USDA Forest Service photo by Deborah Page-Dumroese.
Relevant links:
Read this handy <...
Managing Cultural Resources in a Changing Climate
The impacts of climate change are threatening the resources in our national parks, including many of the cultural resources within them. This month we interviewed Lauren Meyer, Program Manager for the National Park Service Intermountain Historic Preservation Services Office, and Dr. Gregg Garfin, former director of the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center consortium and climatologist at the University of Arizona, to learn more about a project they worked on to develop an online, interactive tool for assessing the vulnerability of cultural resources to natural hazards that climate change may intensify in the Intermountain region of the US. Image...
Climate Hope, the Compilation
We always like to ask our guests on this show what gives them hope as they think about the future and our changing climate, particularly with regard to the systems they work in. For our first episode of 2023, we made a collage of some highlights from our guests’ responses to this question. As this new year begins, we hope you’re finding things to fuel your fire, and perhaps you might find some additional inspiration in the words of others!
Episode image credit: USDA Photo by Lance Cheung
If you’re enjoyi...
Rangelands and Climate change
Ecological sites are the basic component of a land-type classification system that describes ecological potential and ecosystem dynamics of land areas. We interviewed Dr. Joel Brown, current leader of the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s National Ecological Site Team, to learn more about ecological site descriptions, transitions and transformations, and some thoughts about rangeland ecology under a changing climate. Image Credit: USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
Relevant Links:
Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool (EDIT)
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Teaching Science Through Agriculture and Place Based Learning
Science education is critical in responding to future challenges, both in building awareness in our community and also building the skills to respond to some of our most pressing climate-related challenges, such as drought and water scarcity, wildfire, and food production under climate extremes. In this episode we speak with Dr. Stephanie Bestelmeyer, executive director of Asombro Institute for Science Education in Las Cruces, NM, and Dr. Kristy Ehlers, Director of School Partnerships for El Reno Public Schools and BlueSTEM AgriLearning Center in El Reno, Oklahoma, to learn about how they provide K-12 science education through programs that...
Precipitation Intensity: Research, Challenges, and Opportunities
Last month we heard from two experts on drought and aridity; this month we’re covering the other end of the spectrum and focusing on precipitation intensity and heavy downpours in the Southwestern US. Two hydrologic modelers, Dr. Dave Goodrich and Dr. Eleonora Demaria, discuss their research on intense precipitation events, as well as some of the implications of observed trends, associated challenges, and perhaps surprising opportunities. Image credit: Hans, Pixabay.
Publications mentioned during interview:
Demaria, E.M., Hazenberg, P., Scott, R.L., Meles, M.B., Nichols, M. and Go...
Megadrought and Aridity
Megadrought is a term we’ve been hearing a lot of lately, with, as we find out from one of our guests, somewhat varying definitions. The term megadrought is generally used to describe the length of a drought, and not its acute intensity. A related term, aridity, is the degree to which climate lacks effective, life-promoting moisture. Simply put, aridity is permanent, while drought is temporary. But when drought extends multiple decades, as we are currently experiencing, is it actually aridification? We interviewed two experts in drought and aridification, Dr. Connie Woodhouse and Dr. Mike Crimmins, to talk ab...
Mike Hoffmann on Our Changing Menu: How Climate Change Affects the Foods We Grow
We interview Dr. Mike Hoffmann about climate change and the foods we love and need. Dr. Hoffmann is one of the authors of Our Changing Menu, a book published in 2021 about a complicated and nuanced topic – how climate change is impacting our food supply.
Relevant Links & Promo Codes:
Our Changing Menu website: https://www.ourchangingmenu.com/Â
Promo code for 40% off the book if ordered from Cornell Press: 09SAVE
Promo code for dis...
Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability of Navajo Nation Forests
Warming temperatures can exacerbate forest drought stress, reducing defenses to bark beetle outbreaks, wildfire, and tree diseases. Concern about losses within the forests of the Navajo Nation due to these stressors led to a partnership between the Navajo Forestry Department and a diverse group of scientists to assess the vulnerability of Navajo forests to climate change and develop strategies to promote forest resilience to drought and extreme fire behavior. Here we speak with Principal Investigator Dr. Margaret Evans, and forestry consultant Jaime Yazzie, to learn more about this project.
Relevant Links:<...
Behind the Scenes of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report
Dr. Carolyn Enquist and Dr. Dave Gutzler discuss the making of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, particularly the Working Group II section that presents an assessment of the impacts of, and vulnerabilities and adaptations to, climate change, of which both were authors. They share with us the scope and purpose of the report, applicability for resource managers and other decision-makers, what some of the terminology means, and more. Please note - this podcast episode is NOT a summary of the sixth assessment report’s findings. If you are interested in a quick summary of...
Assessing Risk When Relocating Species
Continuing our series on managing for ecosystem transformation, we sit down with Dr. Mark Schwartz, a plant ecologist at UC Davis, and Aviv Karasov-Olson, a PhD candidate at UC Davis, to discuss a new tool for assessing the biotic risks associated with a managed relocation project (also referred to as assisted migration). Managed relocation is the act of deliberately relocating, or translocating, a species outside of its historic range to meet conservation goals, especially in response to climate change. Image credit: USFWS Midwest Region.
Relevant links:
National Park Service: Managed Relocation<...
Managing for Change: California’s Giant Sequoias
How are extreme events transforming sequoia forests in the western US.? And what are land managers doing about it? Dr. Christy Brigham, Chief of Resources Management and Science at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and Dr. Joanna Nelson, Director of science and conservation planning with Save the Redwoods League, visited with us to share their knowledge and experiences working to conserve these iconic trees. Image credit: Pixabay
Relevant links:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon - National Park Service
Save the Redwoods League<...
Forest Transformation in the Southwest
Impacts from rapid climate change are challenging traditional land & wildlife management strategies that were based on a stable baseline condition. In some locations we are already observing early-stage ecosystem reorganization in response to historic land management practices combined with recent novel climate stresses. Dr. Craig Allen and Dr. Nate Stephenson discuss how the convergence of climate stress, human land use patterns and histories, and disturbance trends in the southwestern United States are leading to forest ecosystem changes and transformation. Image source: Pixabay.
Papers mentioned during the interview:
Allen...
Sustainability In Beef Supply Chains
A discussion around sustainability challenges and opportunities within the U.S. beef supply chain. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Sheri Spiegal, a rangeland scientist with the Jornada Experimental Range and Co-PI of the Sustainable Southwest Beef Project. Dr. Spiegal shares insights with us from her ongoing research on beef supply chains, trade offs, and producing “socially acceptable beef”. The Sustainable Southwest Beef Project is supported by USDA NIFA Grant #2019-69012-29853.
Relevant links and resources:
August 1st, 2020 episode (for background info): The Sustainable Southwest Beef Project
...
Katharine Hayhoe On Hope & Healing In A Divided World
An interview with world-renowned climate scientist and Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, on her most recent book titled Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World. All opinions expressed by our guests are their own.
Relevant links and resources:
Katharine Hayhoe’s website: http://www.katharinehayhoe.com/
Coming soon from Dr. Hayhoe! Discussion questions for each section of the book, as well as short videos to go with each section, and...
