Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

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Cascadia Field Station

The Cascadia Field Station is one of three major research facilities of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center. The field station, known formerly as the University of Washington Field Station, the Cooperative Park Studies Unit, and the Field Station for Protected Area Research, was established in 1970 as the first university-based research unit of the National Park Service. The location of the station was then, and continues today to be, the College of Forest Resources at the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1996, the field station was transferred administratively to the Biological Resources Division of the USGS. This is its current affiliation.

Cascadia Field Station scientists traditionally have studied the ecological and social aspects of resource management issues in national parks and other protected areas on public lands in the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States and beyond. The station has directed several long-term studies and assisted federal agencies with scientific issues of immediate concern to resource management. Many research efforts involved cooperation with other agencies and institutions. The two major program areas of the field station have been ecology and social science. Geospatial technology has been used in many of the station's projects.

Two research scientists, one with primary research expertise in forest ecology and the other a social scientist, staffed the field station for much of its existence. University of Washington permanent and temporary employees, and University of Washington graduate students assisted these scientists with research. In 2002, the two scientist positions became vacant. The intention is to fill these positions at some time in the future with USGS expertise that complements the research mission of the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center and the teaching and research missions of the host college.