Citizen Science for Cluing in to the Health of Alaska's Coastal Parks: Engaging Local Communities in Tracking Seabird Mortality | P19AS00101

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of the "Citizen Science for Cluing in to the Health of Alaska's Coastal Parks" cooperative agreement?

The purpose is to build a community-based monitoring network that can better detect, document, and understand seabird mass mortality events (die-offs) along Alaska's coasts, including within and near National Park Service (NPS) coastal park units. The project aims to improve early detection and response to unusual mortality events while also strengthening baseline data so future events can be evaluated against normal conditions. A parallel goal is public engagement: involving local residents and park staff directly in structured monitoring to build science literacy, stewardship, and timely awareness of ecosystem change.

Which agency is offering this opportunity, and what type of award is it?

This is a U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) discretionary cooperative agreement (CFDA 15.945).

Is this grant open for applications from the public or other organizations?

No. The posting is explicitly a Notice of Intent to Award to the University of Washington, meaning applications from other entities are not accepted.

Who is the intended recipient and key partner for the work?

The partnership is between the National Park Service and the University of Washington (UW), using UW's Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) as the core citizen science program delivering the monitoring, training, and data systems.

Why is this project being prioritized in Alaska right now?

Alaska's high-latitude and coastal park units have been flagged as especially vulnerable to climate change impacts. Since 2014, the North Pacific and Arctic coasts have experienced an unusually high number of seabird mass mortality events, including several in Alaska that were visible across multiple coastal parks and included the largest recorded die-off in the region. Because seabirds are highly visible and ecologically important, these events have become a public-facing sign that ocean conditions may be changing, raising concerns about wildlife health and the safety of harvesting and eating marine foods.

How does the project balance scientific monitoring with community engagement?

The project is designed to address two needs at once. On the scientific side, it expands early detection and tracking of unusual mortality events and builds baseline datasets needed to judge whether a future event is abnormal. On the public side, it increases science literacy and stewardship by training and supporting local residents and NPS staff to participate in standardized data collection and receive ongoing communication and context about what their observations mean.

What is COASST, and what role does it play in this agreement?

COASST (the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team) is the citizen science program used as the operational backbone of the project. COASST trains participants to conduct standardized beach surveys for beached (beach-cast) seabirds, record condition and other field data, and use established identification tools such as the COASST Beached Bird key. COASST also provides ongoing learning materials, communication, and summaries that place observations in the context of broader trends.

What kinds of activities are participants trained to do?

Participants are trained to carry out standardized beach surveys (including monthly baseline surveys), document beached seabirds, record carcass condition and related field data, and make identifications using established tools. The project also includes Die-off Alert (DoA) training so participants can collect targeted, event-specific information during an unfolding mortality event in a way that is directly comparable to baseline data.

How does the program ensure the data collected by community members is reliable?

A key feature described in the notice is independent verification of identifications based on collected evidence. This verification step is intended to keep community-generated data consistent and credible for agency use.

What is a "baseline survey," and why is it important?

Baseline surveys are regular (described as monthly) standardized beach surveys that build a reference dataset of what is normal for beached bird occurrence and conditions across time and locations. This baseline helps determine whether a future spike in mortality is truly unusual and supports quicker, more informed interpretation when an event occurs.

What is the Die-off Alert (DoA) training, and when is it used?

Die-off Alert (DoA) training prepares participants to collect targeted information during an unfolding mortality event. The intent is to gather event-specific observations using a standardized protocol that can be compared directly to baseline data, improving the speed and quality of response and assessment.

How are alerts and updates shared when a die-off happens?

When unusual mortality events occur, participants and partner organizations in the affected region receive alerts and updates as the situation develops. This alert structure is meant to reduce response times, increase detection rates (especially in remote areas), and support coordinated communication and assessment.

Which Alaska communities and park-related areas are mentioned as new initiation sites for training?

New program initiation sites listed include Deering (near Bering Land Bridge National Preserve), Iliamna (Lake Clark National Park and Preserve), Kivalina (Cape Krusenstern National Monument), Sitka (Sitka National Historical Park), Wales (Bering Land Bridge), and Barrow/Utqiagvik (with the Inupiat Heritage Center).

Which locations are listed for refresher trainings?

Refresher trainings are planned for Gustavus (Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve), Nome (Bering Land Bridge), Kotzebue (Cape Krusenstern), Seward (Kenai Fjords National Park), and Skagway (Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park).

How many people is the effort expected to reach and train?

The notice states the effort is expected to reach more than 5,000 Alaska residents through expanded COASST presence and to train an estimated 160 people as active participants across a wide age range.

How does this project support the National Park Service Climate Change Response Strategy?

The project supports the NPS Climate Change Response Strategy by improving understanding and communication of climate-related ecosystem change, especially in remote areas where professional monitoring coverage is often limited. It does this through expanded on-the-ground observations, standardized data collection, and community-connected communication around seabird mortality events.

How does this work connect with other seabird mortality monitoring efforts in Alaska?

The NPS-UW agreement is described as a connector that expands local observations and channels them into systems that can support broader agency assessment, potential investigations, and public communication. The notice says data and alerts from this effort are intended to inform and complement statewide efforts involving multiple partners, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs (Migratory Bird Management and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge), the U.S. Geological Survey (Alaska Science Center and National Wildlife Health Center), NOAA Sea Grant, and regional/community observing networks such as Bering Watch, the Local Environmental Observer (LEO) Network, and Gulf Watch Alaska.

What outreach and professional capacity-building components are included?

Objectives include recruiting and engaging residents and NPS staff in coastal park communities for regular monitoring and expanding awareness and competency among professional avian biologists across Alaska. The notice also references training tied to the 2019 Alaska Bird Conference (introducing biologists to the COASST Seabird Die-off Alert protocol), presentation of COASST at the 2019 Ocean and Science Learning Center (OASLC) Teacher Workshop, and production of public-facing visual media (through a related Student Conservation Association agreement) to communicate the severity of seabird mortality events and the response efforts.

What is the funding amount and number of expected awards?

The posting indicates one expected award with a funding ceiling of $49,000.

What are the key dates listed in the opportunity posting?

The opportunity was created on April 9, 2019, with an original closing date of April 18, 2019.

What overall outcome is the National Park Service seeking through this agreement?

The stated overall result is a stronger, faster, and more community-connected seabird mortality monitoring system that improves baseline understanding, supports Alaska-wide interagency response, and increases public awareness of climate-linked changes affecting coastal national parks.