Ncasi Foundation

The Ncasi Foundation accomplishes its mission through sponsored research, independent studies, and outreach. Ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "investigating precursor bias in method 202 and the feasibility of otm-037 as an alternative method for condensable pm measurement." This program compares cpm measurement using epa method 202 and otm-037. Measurement of pm at various locations along each method's sampling setup informs whether the method itself is affecting cpm formation, and if so, to what degree.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "working forests, forest sustainability, and at-risk species through collaborative conservation." The purpose of this project is to quantify the role of working forest landscapes in conserving species-at-risk and maintaining aquatic and terrestrial communities. Specifically, we seek to examine species from multiple taxonomic groups over an extended time horizon in a landscape dominated by certified, private forests managed primarily for timber production.ncasi Foundation sponsored technical work to "improve the science and risk assessment processes in national ambient air quality standards (naaqs) reviews." This work will identify more more robust methodologies to ensure the science used to inform future ambient air rulemakings, aimed to protect human health and welfare, is of high quality and provides the appropriate strength and weight of evidence necessary to base decisions on future ambient air quality standard levels.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "pollinator pathways across landscapes: floral occurrence, pollinator richness, and plant/pollinator interactions in the Oregon coast range." The purpose of this project is to conduct surveys of pollinators and plants they utilize in the Oregon coast range. Data collected will aid in development of seed mixes used in pollinator habitat enhancement projects on the siuslaw national forest and nearby private industrial property within the same watersheds.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "intensive forest management (ifm) avian point counts and vegetation." The purpose of this project is to develop and disseminate scientific information on managing forested landscapes for biodiversity conservation while sustaining high levels of timber production. Cooperators are studying the effects of ifm on songbird and arthropod abundance and diversity, as well as songbird populations. Marten detections are clustered and extremely limited in distribution, especially in the southern Oregon coast. This project will conduct surveys to address connectivity, while further defining marten range and estimate population size in south coastal Oregon. Ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "fisher conservation in Oregon under the candidate conservation agreement with assurances (ccaa) program." Ten landowners in Oregon have entered into candidate conservation agreements with assurances (ccaa) with the us fish and wildlife service prior to the proposed threatened listing of the fisher in Oregon and California. Part of their individual agreements with usfws stipulates that each ccaa permit holder contribute funds towards fisher conservation to be used for research or habitat enhancement. Projects will address fisher distributions, population trends, habitat relationships, and other activities that inform fisher conservation.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "center for advanced forestry systems (cafs) program." Funding committed by cafs member universities will be used to support multi-year research projects consistent with cafs technology roadmap; development and refinement of decision-support tools; and synthesis of science on priority topics such as forest health, carbon, and emerging technologies relevant to forest industry.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "identifying science-based conservation opportunities for humbodt martens: fine-scale habitat use, movement, and demography in landscapes that differ in forest composition." This is a multi-faceted telemetry study paired with non-invasive techniques to evaluate critical information gaps for humboldt martens. This study will provide much needed science to help with identifying 4(d) rule related management opportunities and recovery efforts for federal partners.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "marten and fisher surveys." The purpose this project is to provide an initial assessment of the effects of fire on populations, distributions, and habitat refugia of the martens, fishers and other members of the carnivore community directly following an unprecedented fire.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "biodiversity in natural and managed early seral forests of southern Oregon." This project is to document how plantation forestry alters the biodiversity and tempo of the early seral period from its primary natural counterpart, wildfire. At the same time, investigate the extent to which active management may support species and communities traditionally associated with natural disturbance.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "comparing wildfire and forest management effects on water quality and fish in headwater ecosystems." The purpose of this project is to measure stream temperature, turbidity, and fish population responses in the first four years following the 2020 stand replacing wildfire in or and compare these responses with pre- and post-harvest responses.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "ground truthing streamflow duration classification." Forested stream definitions are a primary determinant of the degree of protection surface waters receive during forest management by determining allocation of buffers and their widths. This project will utilize the latest usgs modeling data to identify perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral classifications within watersheds of interest on private forest lands, and during the low flow season to document whether surface water is flowing following usgs protocols. Ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "cumulative effects of post-fire riparian forest management on vegetation structure and diversity across fire severity and land ownership." Widespread forest fires burned at different severities, across multiple landowners, and across different forest types including riparian areas. While vegetation response after fire has been well studied, the response of understory vegetation in riparian areas to fire and post-fire management is not well understood. In the absence of an intact overstory, it is important to understand the contribution of riparian understory vegetation to the recovery of the aquatic ecosystem.ncasi Foundation sponsored work on "a unified approach to evolving fia's estimation capacity." This project will develop and execute a strategic plan for enhanced integration of remote sensing information into the fia program with special emphasis on small area estimation techniques. It will precisely define fia information user needs, conduct research into new estimation techniques, and deliver estimation capacity to users through development.