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Science and Decisions Center

The USGS Science and Decisions Center (SDC) is a unique and small interdisciplinary center which conducts integrated physical, biological, socioeconomic, and information science, advances decision-analytic methods in the USGS, and investigates innovative data collection and analysis methods with a goal of increasing the use and value of USGS science in decision making.

Publications

Natural capital accounting on forested lands: An application to the Colorado River basin

This paper creates a first set of forest natural capital accounts and demonstrates how these accounts can be integrated with general equilibrium models of the economy. Focusing on the Colorado River Basin, we show that deforestation has direct implications for the forest industry and indirect impacts on the economy through water treatment costs and carbon stock. 327,000 acres of forest...
Authors
Travis Warziniack, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Michael Knowles, Christopher Mihiar, Arpita Nehra, Charles Rhodes, Leslie Sanchez, Christopher Sichko, Charles B. Sims

Establishing historical baselines of arthropod assemblages using rodent paleomiddens

AimArthropods are under-represented in paleoecological studies but are critical agents in ecological processes. Despite rigorous documentation of diverse arthropod assemblages from ancient rodent (or paleo) middens worldwide, their use for studying ancient arthropod diversity has stalled in recent decades. Here, we review published studies to identify how paleomidden arthropods can be...
Authors
Joseph Braasch, Julio L. Betancourt, Olivier Dezerald, Udari Peiris, Maura Tapia-Rozas, Cristian Villagra, Claudio L. Latorre, Angélica L. González

Societal benefits of cyanobacteria harmful algal bloom management in Lake Okeechobee in Florida—Potential damages avoided during the 2018 event under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Harmful Algal Bloom Interception, Treatment, and Transformation System scena

Freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs) formed by blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, have emerged as a global environmental problem. Their negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems can affect the benefits nature provides to human society by reducing water quality; inhibiting aquatic recreation; killing fish, wildlife, and pets; and posing a risk to human health. To manage harmful algal...
Authors
Inoussa Boubacar, Emily Pindilli, Ellie Brown, Benjamin Simon, Kristin E. Skrabis, Ian Luby

Science

Decision Science

We host strong decision science programs on University campuses listed below. Understanding cultural, social, and political factors drives decision-making. In other words, what people think matters. One of the key building blocks our program is we actively engage local communities and our research is relevant to the needs of the States, geographic regions, and the Nation. We make available new...
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Decision Science

We host strong decision science programs on University campuses listed below. Understanding cultural, social, and political factors drives decision-making. In other words, what people think matters. One of the key building blocks our program is we actively engage local communities and our research is relevant to the needs of the States, geographic regions, and the Nation. We make available new...
Learn More

About the Science and Decisions Center

Today's natural resource managers must make effective decisions with broad–scale societal impacts.
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About the Science and Decisions Center

Today's natural resource managers must make effective decisions with broad–scale societal impacts.
Learn More
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