US Forest Service Research and Development Air, Water and Aquatics Science - Rocky Mountain Research Station - RMRS - US Forest Service
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  • Rocky Mountain Research Station
  • 240 West Prospect
  • Fort Collins, CO 80526
  • (970) 498-1100
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Air, Water and Aquatics Science

The Air, Water and Aquatics Science Program is committed to the development of knowledge and science applications related to air and water quality, as well as the habitat quality, distribution, diversity, and persistence of fish and other aquatic species.

Air quality, water availability, water quality, and aquatic habitats are critical issues within the rapidly changing Western United States. Air, water, and aquatic resources are essential to society, as a life support and as an economic mainstay for individuals, communities, local and state governments. Forest and rangeland land management, coupled with human expansion has a significant influence on the quality and quantity of these resources. A long history of overgrazing by livestock, timber harvest, fire suppression, mining operations, recreational activities, road construction in valley and canyon bottoms and hill slopes, and dams and water diversions is impacting entire watersheds. Increasing dependence upon watersheds for off-site domestic water supplies, irrigation, and recreation has added complexity to the challenges faced by watershed managers. Natural disturbances, such as climate change and uncharacteristic fires and weather patterns are rapidly changing known patterns outdating current air, water, and aquatic management understanding and monitoring. Research is needed to understand natural processes, and how human management and other interventions impact these critical resources.

The RMRS Air, Water and Aquatics Science Program objectives are aligned with our National Forest Strategic Plan and National Research and Development Strategic Program Areas:

  • Ecosystem Processes— Providing basic and applied science to understand how ecosystem processes and management actions influence forest and rangeland air quality, water quality and quantity, and aquatic habitats.
  • Air and fire Interactions— Providing basic and applied science to understand wildland fire behavior, danger, smoke and weather to reduce risk to lives, property, and natural resources.
  • Climate Variability and Extreme Events— Providing science to understand how air and water pollution, climate variability and change, and chronic and extreme events impact aquatic, forest and rangeland sustainability and the benefits they provide to society.
  • Tools Development— Developing and providing the tools necessary to manage forest and rangelands in ways to protect watersheds, minimize negative impacts of wildland fire on air quality, protect people, resources and structures from fire, improve watershed habitat quality and protect biodiversity.
Air, Water and Aquatics
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Rocky Mountain Research Station
Last Modified: Wednesday, 17 December 2008 at 12:07:08 EST (Version 1.0.5)