Opportunity Information: Apply for G15AP00027
Apply for G15AP00027
- The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Aerial Creel Survey of The Detroit River" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808 U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 2, 2015 and posted on Mar 2, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 16, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $25,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The "Aerial Creel Survey of The Detroit River" grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G15AP00027) was a US Geological Survey discretionary research grant designed to fill a major data gap in recreational fisheries information for the Detroit River boat fishery. Fisheries managers rely on solid, real-world catch and effort data to understand how fish populations respond to fishing pressure and how different fish stocks contribute to the overall fishery. Those inputs are foundational for fishery dynamics models and for building or updating management plans across the Great Lakes and inland waters. At the time of the announcement, the Detroit River lacked enough recreational boating angler data to support that kind of decision-making, so the project focused on collecting standardized, defensible statistics on fishing activity and outcomes during the open-water season.
The proposed work centered on a coordinated creel survey led by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Michigan DNR) in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, covering March through September 2015 (specifically March 15 through September 15). The core idea was to combine on-the-ground angler interviews at access sites with aerial counts of fishing boats using a fixed-wing aircraft. Because the Detroit River has many access points and diverse ways anglers enter and use the fishery, the opportunity emphasized that aerial overflights were the most practical and reliable way to estimate total effort. The requested funding was specifically intended to pay for aerial contractors to conduct the flights and to modify or adjust software so aerial creel data could be captured and managed properly alongside interview data.
The project objectives were straightforward but management-critical. First, it aimed to generate a clear record of sport fishing effort, catch and harvest totals, catch and harvest rates, and catch composition for Detroit River fisheries. Second, it aimed to ensure the work followed consistent protocols and data collection methods, with adequate oversight and timely analysis so that the results could be used by Fisheries Division managers, partner agencies, and the public. In other words, the deliverable was not just raw data, but credible, comparable statistics produced using established creel-survey methodology.
Methodologically, the river was divided into two survey sections (upper and lower), and only one section would be surveyed on any given sample day. Sampling followed a progressive roving access points design (referencing Lockwood et al. 1999), with one Michigan DNR creel clerk working 40 hours per week. Each week included two weekend days plus three randomly selected weekdays, which helps reduce bias by capturing both high-use and typical-use patterns. During each sampling day, the clerk worked one eight-hour shift, scheduled within daylight windows (for example, between 6:00 am and 4:00 pm or between 10:30 am and 10:00 pm), and the specific start and end times changed by month to match seasonal daylight. The starting locations for counts and interviews alternated according to a randomized schedule to avoid systematically favoring certain sites or times.
Two main data streams were collected. The first stream came from access-site interviews conducted as boaters ended their fishing trips. For every interview, the clerk recorded the date, time, and location. If a boater had not fished, the interaction was logged as a non-fishing party and ended, which also allowed the study to potentially track broader recreational boating patterns. If fishing occurred, anglers were asked where they fished on the river, how long they fished, which species they targeted, how many fish they caught by species, how many were kept (harvested), and information about trip counts or intended trips that day. The second stream came from aerial overflights: a fixed-wing aircraft conducted one count per survey day to tally boat anglers on the river, producing the effort-expansion data needed to scale interview results up to river-wide estimates. Data were entered into a specialized application built for this type of creel survey work.
From these inputs, the study planned to estimate multiple effort metrics, including angler-hours, angler-trips, and angler-days. It also planned to estimate total fish harvested (caught and kept), total fish caught and released, and species-specific catch rates, all calculated using standard creel-survey formulas (again citing Lockwood et al. 1999). The opportunity also specified how uncertainty would be reported: uncertainty for catch and effort estimates would be expressed as two standard deviations around the mean estimate (described as 2 times the square root of the variance for an estimate). That detail matters because management decisions often depend not only on point estimates but also on how precise those estimates are.
The planned products extended beyond simple totals. The project would generate summaries of angler demographics (who is using the fishery) and biological information from harvested fish, which can support assessments of size structure, species composition, and other indicators that help interpret harvest impacts. Dissemination and use were explicitly broad: results were intended for state biologists and partner agencies such as the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Sea Grant, and USGS, as well as universities (including fisheries science, sociology, and economics researchers) and public stakeholders such as anglers, charter operators, and media. The announcement highlighted practical management applications, including evaluating stocking outcomes, assessing the effects of regulations, developing quotas or total allowable catch frameworks where relevant, and tracking status and trends over time.
Administratively, the grant was listed under CFDA 15.808 (USGS Research and Data Collection), with an expected single award totaling $25,000 (award floor and ceiling both $25,000), no cost-sharing or match requirement, and eligibility limited to state governments. The opportunity was posted March 2, 2015, with a closing date of March 16, 2015, and an archive date of April 15, 2015. A contact was provided for access issues: Gail Walker, Contract Specialist (phone 303-236-9334).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Aerial Creel Survey of The Detroit River (G15AP00027)
What is the "Aerial Creel Survey of The Detroit River" grant opportunity?
It was a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary research grant opportunity designed to fill a major data gap in recreational fisheries information for the Detroit River boat fishery by collecting standardized, defensible catch and effort statistics during the open-water season.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number was G15AP00027.
What federal program or CFDA listing was this opportunity under?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 15.808 (USGS Research and Data Collection).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to state governments.
Was cost sharing or a match required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or match requirement.
How much funding was available?
The opportunity anticipated a single award totaling $25,000. The award floor and ceiling were both $25,000.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity indicated an expected single award.
What problem or data gap was the project intended to address?
At the time of the announcement, the Detroit River lacked enough recreational boating angler data to support fisheries decision-making. The project was intended to create solid, real-world catch and effort data needed to understand fishing pressure, fish population responses, and how different fish stocks contribute to the fishery.
Why are creel survey data important for fisheries management?
Fisheries managers rely on catch and effort data to build or update fishery dynamics models and management plans. These statistics are used to evaluate how fisheries respond to pressure and to support management actions across the Great Lakes and inland waters.
Who was planned to lead and partner on the creel survey work?
The creel survey was planned to be led by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Michigan DNR) in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
What was the project time period for data collection?
The work was planned to cover March through September 2015, specifically March 15 through September 15.
What fishery did the project focus on?
The focus was the Detroit River boat fishery (recreational boating anglers).
What was the basic survey approach described in the opportunity?
The approach combined (1) on-the-ground angler interviews at access sites and (2) aerial counts of fishing boats using a fixed-wing aircraft, coordinated so effort and catch could be estimated with established creel-survey methods.
Why did the opportunity emphasize aerial overflights?
Because the Detroit River has many access points and diverse angler entry/use patterns, the opportunity described aerial overflights as the most practical and reliable way to estimate total fishing effort on the river.
What was the requested funding specifically intended to pay for?
The funding was specifically intended to pay for aerial contractors to conduct the flights and to modify or adjust software so aerial creel data could be captured and managed properly alongside interview data.
How was the Detroit River divided for survey purposes?
The river was divided into two survey sections: an upper section and a lower section.
Would both sections be surveyed on the same day?
No. Only one section would be surveyed on any given sample day.
What sampling design was referenced for the creel survey?
The opportunity described a progressive roving access points design and referenced Lockwood et al. 1999.
How much staff time was planned for on-the-ground creel work?
The plan included one Michigan DNR creel clerk working 40 hours per week.
What days were included in the weekly sampling plan?
Each week included two weekend days plus three randomly selected weekdays to reduce bias and capture both high-use and typical-use patterns.
How long was each sampling shift, and when did shifts occur?
Each sampling day used one eight-hour shift scheduled within daylight windows. Example windows included 6:00 am to 4:00 pm or 10:30 am to 10:00 pm, with start and end times changing by month to match seasonal daylight.
How did the study avoid repeatedly favoring the same access sites or times?
Starting locations for counts and interviews alternated according to a randomized schedule to avoid systematic bias toward particular sites or time periods.
What were the two main data streams collected?
The two main data streams were (1) access-site interviews conducted when boaters ended their fishing trips and (2) aerial overflights (one fixed-wing count per survey day) to tally boat anglers for effort expansion.
When were anglers interviewed during the study?
Interviews were conducted at access sites as boaters ended their fishing trips.
What information was recorded for every interview?
For every interview, the clerk recorded the date, time, and location.
What happened if a contacted boating party had not fished?
The interaction was logged as a non-fishing party and ended. This also allowed the study to potentially track broader recreational boating patterns.
What questions were asked if the party had fished?
Anglers were asked where they fished on the river, how long they fished, which species they targeted, how many fish they caught by species, how many were kept (harvested), and information about trip counts or intended trips that day.
How often did aerial counts occur?
The fixed-wing aircraft conducted one count per survey day.
What was the purpose of the aerial counts in the analysis?
Aerial counts produced the effort-expansion data needed to scale interview results up to river-wide estimates of effort and catch.
How was survey data managed?
Data were entered into a specialized application built for this type of creel survey work, with the opportunity noting that software modifications or adjustments were part of the funded work so aerial and interview data could be managed together.
What types of fishing effort metrics were planned to be estimated?
The study planned to estimate angler-hours, angler-trips, and angler-days.
What catch and harvest outputs were planned?
The planned outputs included total fish harvested (caught and kept), total fish caught and released, species-specific catch and harvest rates, and catch composition.
What methods or formulas were planned for estimating catch and effort?
The opportunity stated that estimates would be calculated using standard creel-survey formulas and referenced Lockwood et al. 1999.
How would uncertainty be reported for the estimates?
Uncertainty for catch and effort estimates was to be expressed as two standard deviations around the mean estimate, described as 2 times the square root of the variance for an estimate.
Were the project deliverables limited to raw data?
No. The opportunity emphasized credible, comparable statistics produced using established creel-survey methodology, with consistent protocols, adequate oversight, and timely analysis so results could be used by managers, partners, and the public.
What additional summaries or supporting information were planned beyond catch totals?
The project planned to generate summaries of angler demographics and biological information from harvested fish to support interpretation of harvest impacts, such as size structure and species composition indicators.
Who were the intended users of the results?
Intended users included Fisheries Division managers, partner agencies, and the public. The opportunity also cited audiences such as the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Sea Grant, USGS, universities (including fisheries science, sociology, and economics researchers), and stakeholders like anglers, charter operators, and media.
What are examples of management applications mentioned for the results?
The announcement highlighted uses such as evaluating stocking outcomes, assessing the effects of regulations, developing quotas or total allowable catch frameworks where relevant, and tracking status and trends over time.
What were the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was posted March 2, 2015, closed March 16, 2015, and had an archive date of April 15, 2015.
Who was listed as the contact for access issues?
Gail Walker, Contract Specialist, was provided as a contact for access issues at 303-236-9334.
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