FORT > About FORT
About the Fort Collins Science Center
Who we are
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The Fort Collins Science Center (FORT) is one of 17 science centers in the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Biological Resources Discipline. It reports through the Regional Biologist to the Director of the USGS Central Region.
FORT scientists conduct research and develop technical applications to assist land managers and natural resource decision makers in understanding and managing biological resources, habitats, and ecosystems. FORT conducts its science with a staff of 120 federal employees, a support services contract staff of more than 40 professionals, 40 university affiliates, and more than 100 seasonal staff and volunteers.
The Center is also home to scientists from other USGS disciplines and Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus. Through partnerships with the EROS Data Center, the Rocky Mountain Mapping Center, the National Water Quality Assessment Program, the National Research Program, the Wyoming State Office of the Bureau of Land Management, and the Inventory and Monitoring Program of the National Park Service, FORT scientists team up with others to bring the best available science to natural resource management needs.
What We Do
FORT
science focuses on ecosystem responses to natural processes and human
activities in the mountain, desert, and semi-arid West. FORT scientists
study and advise decision makers on such diverse topics as population
trends of native plants, fisheries and wildlife; changes in watersheds
or riparian systems; long-term monitoring and analysis of biogeochemical
processes related to global climate change; monitoring and predictive
modeling of invasive species such as toxic weeds, tamarisk or West Nile
Virus; impact on grassland bird species and habitat due to various farm
practices; predator/prey relationships between prairie dog colonies, plague,
and the black-footed ferret; ecological effects of fire and fire management
practices; and socioeconomic effects on local communities such as job
creation or public perception of land management actions.
FORT has a strong history of leadership in information technology and information management for natural resource management. It is home base for the Southwest Information Node and the Invasive Species Information Node of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII).
FORT's diverse scientific and technical expertise allows for a comprehensive and integrated research program to address natural resource issues at all levels. FORT scientists publish peer-reviewed reports and publications, predictive models and software, maps, scientific databases, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) products. They also provide technical assistance in the form of meetings, workshops, training, field visits, consultations, and assessments of agency needs.
Who We Work With
FORT serves all DOI land management agencies and other natural resource agencies. More than 85% of the FORT's science is done in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and tribal governments.
FORT scientists share resources and expertise with other federal agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Energy (Los Alamos National Laboratory), Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Science Foundation, bureaus of the Department of Agriculture, and the Southwest Strategy (a consortium of agencies and tribes focused on natural resource issues of the arid Southwest).
The Center serves as the administrative headquarters for the National Institute of Invasive Species Science. This is a collaborative scientific partnership with USGS science centers; DOI land management bureaus; NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; Colorado State University; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the University of California, Davis; Northern Arizona University; and many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The Institute coordinates and operates the Invasive Species Information Node of the NBII. In partnership with Goddard, FORT is scheduled to house the first supercomputer facility focused on predictive modeling of invasive species.
FORT has extensive working relationships with universities including Colorado State University and its Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, the University of New Mexico, the University of Colorado, the University of Northern Colorado, New Mexico State University, the University of Wyoming, Montana State University, the University of Montana, Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, the University of Tennessee, and Michigan Tech.
FORT has active projects in collaboration with academics, NGOs, and state agencies throughout the U.S., and in Argentina, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Russian Federation states.
Where We Are
The Fort Collins Science Center headquarters is located on the Natural Resources Research Center (NRRC) campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. The NRRC, a partnership between six federal agencies and the university, was established to support and enhance cooperative research on natural resource issues. To further broaden the scope of cooperative opportunities, FORT also has scientists located at CSU's Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; the Arid Lands Field Station at the University of New Mexico; the Jemez Mountains Field Station at Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos, New Mexico; the Bureau of Reclamation's Technical Services Center in Denver; and the new Rocky Mountain Center for Conservation Genetics and Systematics at the University of Denver.
How We're Organized
FORT is organized around six Science Programs that respond to USGS future science directions and priority needs of DOI and other natural resource agencies:
Aquatic Systems and Technology Applications
International Center for Applied Ecology
Policy Analysis and Science Assistance
Species and Habitats of Federal Interest
Interdisciplinary project teams integrate research across these six program areas. A Science Program Director leads each program's team of scientists. The Office of the Center Director and the Science Administrative Support and Science Technical Support teams provide services to facilitate and support the research and technical assistance activities of FORT scientists.
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