Headwaters

Our latest research on the importance of non-labor income, minority populations in the rural West, assistance to communities to reduce wildfire risk, and new data showing commercial activities on National Forests. Read more

Our latest research on proposed budget cuts to county payments, identifying populations at risk, comparing socioeconomic trends in Gunnison County, Colorado to adjacent counties, and rural economic development in Lincoln, Montana. Read more

Our latest research on the local economic importance of National Monuments, the impact of every National Park Service unit to gateway communities, and details for public lands in every county and state in the nation. Read more

Our latest research on the rural West, communities at risk from closing coal plants, improving wildfire policy to reduce risks and costs, and using the latest data to better understand the characteristics of your community—whether age, housing costs, race, poverty, or education. Read more

Our latest research on the value of federal public lands, manufacturing in the West, economic data and trends for communities, and government employment’s role in local economies. Read more

Our latest research on oil & natural gas taxes, the value of public and protected lands, communities utilizing land use planning to reduce wildfire risks and costs, trail use in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and migration patterns across the American West. Read more

Our latest research on dam removal benefits, Taos trails and access, socioeconomic data for every National Forest community, commercial activities on National Forests, and our newest staffer Kelly Pohl. Read more

Our latest research on dam removal benefits, Taos trails and access, socioeconomic data for every National Forest community, commercial activities on National Forests, and our newest staffer Kelly Pohl. Read more

Our latest research showing the economic impact of every National Park Service unit, ways to reform wildlife refuge payments to local governments, an improved trails library, and a survey of the value of trails in Bonner County, Idaho. Read more

Our latest research showing the new tool: Populations at Risk (PAR); the Economic Profile System (EPS); and our new Associate Director, Patty Gude. Read more

Our latest research on communities threatened by wildfire, the West’s economy, trail and pathway use in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and a report on planning for Montana’s energy transition. Read more

Our latest research on federal lands in the rural West, land use planning to reduce wildfire risk, and a paper from ten wildfire experts to inform future policy decisions. Read more

Our latest research on the Three Wests, the impacts of federal royalty rate reforms on coal and natural gas, home construction in Montana, and our newest staffer: Janet Clark. Read more

Our latest research on the benefits of LWCF, home construction in the High Divide region, commercial activities on National Forests, and our newest staffer: Kimiko Barrett. Read more

Our latest research on the updated EPS, economic impacts of National Park Service units, better planning to reduce wildfire risk, the latest county payments and projections, and the new website. Read more

Our latest research on federal coal royalty reform, reducing wildfire threats, trail user surveys, and Bonner County, Idaho’s resilient economy. Read more

Our latest research on trails, the economic value of public lands in Grand County, Utah, economic development opportunities in Wheeler County, Oregon, and climate impacts in the Great Lakes region. Read more

Our latest research on county payments, federal coal royalties, Montana’s economy and its public lands, and the economic opportunities in the Blackfoot River watershed. Read more