Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests | G19AS00110

Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00110

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Great Lakes Northern Forests funding opportunity (Opportunity Number G19AS00110) was a discretionary research solicitation issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior. It was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the work was expected to be carried out with substantial involvement from USGS staff rather than as a hands-off grant. The opportunity was categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and was tied to CFDA 15.808, which historically covered USGS research and related assistance activities.

The project focus was titled "Transitioning to a Long-Term Ecosystem Monitoring Program in the St. Clair-Detroit River System." In practical terms, USGS sought a research partner to help move monitoring efforts in the St. Clair-Detroit River System from shorter-term or project-by-project studies into a durable, long-term ecosystem monitoring program. The emphasis was not simply on collecting more data, but on doing the program analysis and building a workable framework that would guide how long-term monitoring should be designed, governed, prioritized, and sustained over time. That kind of framework typically addresses questions like what indicators should be monitored, how sampling should be standardized across agencies and years, how data will be managed and shared, and how monitoring results will be used to support management decisions.

The underlying management need driving the project was to protect and validate the benefits of habitat restoration investments in the St. Clair and Detroit River corridor and to improve the ability to track fish population trends. Habitat restoration is expensive and often takes years to show measurable ecological responses, so long-term monitoring is critical for demonstrating outcomes, detecting changes, and adjusting strategies when results are not meeting expectations. A well-structured monitoring program also supports continuity across funding cycles and personnel changes, helping agencies avoid gaps or shifting methods that make data hard to compare over time.

Financially, the opportunity listed an award ceiling of $300,000 and anticipated making a single award. The posting was created on July 10, 2019, with an original closing date of July 26, 2019, indicating a relatively short application window. Eligibility was described as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which is typical for CESU opportunities where eligibility can be limited to CESU network partners or otherwise defined in the full announcement. Overall, the solicitation was aimed at producing an actionable plan and analytical foundation for long-term ecosystem monitoring in a high-value Great Lakes connecting channel, with a clear line of sight to evaluating restoration success and strengthening fish population monitoring over the long run.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 10, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G19AS00110

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: