Who We Are

Headwaters Economics is an independent, nonprofit research group. We are dedicated economists, geographers, ecologists, and educators who care deeply about the West.

The staff at Headwaters Economics blends research with extensive on-the-ground experience and has been working in strategic partnership with communities, landowners, public land managers, and elected officials in the region for more than 20 years.

Our Mission

Our mission is to improve community development and land management decisions in the West. We fulfill our mission by giving the right people credible information they can use to identify and solve problems.

How We Work

Headwaters Economics provides innovative and effective research to people and organizations that make a difference in the West. We tailor our work for each specific project, but generally employ the following approach:

• We build alliances with local experts, leaders, and institutions that influence or make important decisions.
• We conduct thorough, peer-reviewed research using the best available information and innovative technology.
• We translate and communicate our findings into informative and comprehensible reports and presentations designed to bring about constructive results.
• We travel into the field to facilitate discussions, meet with decision makers, conduct workshops, and assist with implementing strategies.

Partners

We work with a wide variety of individuals, organizations, agencies, and others, including:

• Community leaders
• Elected officials
• Nonprofit organizations
• Landowners

• Business owners
• Land use planners
• Charitable foundations
• Public land agencies

In the News

Read a profile of Headwaters Economics along with recent news stories on our work.

Funding

Headwaters Economics, as an independent, nonprofit research group, receives funding from a wide variety of sources.

Newsletter

Click here to read our Research Update Newsletters about our work on issues such as energy, wildfires, economics, and EPS-HDT.