Opportunity Information: Apply for R13SS40016
Apply for R13SS40016
- The Bureau of Reclamation Upper Colorado Region in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring Below Flaming Gorge Dam" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.517 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 2, 2013 and posted on May 2, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000.00 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).
- State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and institutions, public and private institutions and organizations, Federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments, individuals, small businesses, for profit organizations, and Native American Organizations.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring Below Flaming Gorge Dam grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number R13SS40016) is a small, targeted cooperative agreement offered by the Bureau of Reclamation (Upper Colorado Region) to support ongoing ecological monitoring in the Green River system downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam in Utah. The project is framed around protecting and understanding one of the most productive and well-known tailwater trout fisheries in the United States. The underlying concern is straightforward: changes in dam operations (including newly implemented daily double peak flow operations) and broader hydrologic variability (such as high water versus low water years) can shift river conditions in ways that reduce the quantity, accessibility, or nutritional value of aquatic invertebrates that trout rely on for food. If trout forage declines, trout growth and overall fishery quality can decline as well, so the monitoring is intended to provide an early warning system and a scientific basis for evaluating operational tradeoffs.
The main objective is to continue long-term, standardized monitoring of the river ecosystem downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam and to interpret current conditions in the context of historical data. A key emphasis is comparing ecosystem responses under the daily double peak flow regime versus other operational patterns, including above-power-plant flows that can occur in high water years. The work is explicitly designed as a continuation of a long-running dataset: sampling will occur at nine established locations along the Green River corridor from Fontenelle Dam downstream to the Colorado state line at Swinging Bridge. These are the same sites that have been sampled quarterly since 1995 (as described in Vinson et al. 2006), which is important because consistent methods and locations make it possible to detect real ecological change over time rather than artifacts of shifting techniques. Sampling downstream from Fontenelle Dam is noted as especially useful because Fontenelle releases are characterized by single peak or constant daily flows, offering a meaningful contrast to the double peak pattern associated with Flaming Gorge operations.
The grant supports collection and integration of two main categories of information: physical habitat conditions and biological (benthic) productivity. Physical data on stream discharge and water temperature are not collected anew by the project but are compiled from existing monitoring by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey. Specific gage stations include Flaming Gorge Dam (USGS Station 092345000), Fontenelle Dam (Station 09211200), and Green River, Wyoming (Station 09216500). These flow and temperature records are then incorporated into analyses so biological patterns can be interpreted against operational and hydrologic conditions.
Biological monitoring focuses on epiphytic aquatic plants (attached algae and related growth on rock surfaces) and benthic macroinvertebrates (the primary invertebrate prey base for trout). Sampling is seasonal, conducted four times per year in January, April, July, and September, following the established Vinson et al. (2006) protocol. Epiphytic plant standing stock is estimated by collecting from ten D50-sized rocks at each riffle site and scraping a fixed, small area (5.3 cm2) from the upper rock surface. Samples are frozen, returned to the lab, dried and weighed, and then combusted in a muffle furnace (550 C for 2 hours) to calculate ash-free dry mass (AFDM), a standard measure that reflects organic biomass rather than mineral residue. Macroinvertebrates are sampled in riffles using a Hess net with a defined sampling area (0.08 m2) and 250-micron mesh. Eight individual samples are taken at each site and composited, and when feasible sampling targets areas below the minimum flow water line associated with 28 cms (800 cfs). In the lab, at least 300 organisms per composite sample are subsampled and identified under a dissecting microscope, and the remainder of the sample is searched to pick up less common taxa that might be missed in the split.
Taxonomic identification aims for the lowest practical level, typically species or genus for many aquatic insects when specimens are mature and intact. Some groups are identified at higher levels due to practical constraints, such as Chironomidae (midges) typically to subfamily, and certain non-insect groups (notably Annelida) to Class or Order. Smaller, damaged, or very immature individuals may only be identifiable to family. The solicitation also describes careful specimen archiving: identified organisms from each sample are preserved together in museum-grade glass vials with ethanol (70%), labeled on waterproof paper in permanent carbon ink with location, date, and a unique catalog number. Samples are retained in the investigators collection but are to be made available to others upon request and with Bureau of Reclamation permission, which supports transparency and future re-analysis.
Deliverables are centered on annual reporting and timely data sharing. The purpose is not only to describe what was collected each year, but to place each year in historical perspective so trends related to dam operations and climate-driven hydrology can be evaluated. Reports are expected to include streamflow and temperature context, aquatic invertebrate occurrence and relative abundance, and aquatic plant biomass at each site. Data are to be made quickly available to the Bureau of Reclamation, Western Area Power Administration, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and other researchers, particularly for use in modeling and related analyses. Annual progress reports are due no later than March 31 each year, and a final report is required on or before the agreement expiration date.
Administratively, this is a discretionary cooperative agreement in the environment funding activity category, with one expected award and a total award amount of $20,000 (ceiling and floor both listed as $20,000), and no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted May 2, 2013, and closed May 15, 2013 (archived May 16, 2013). Eligibility is broad, covering state and local governments, nonprofits, public and private institutions, tribal governments, individuals, small businesses, for-profit organizations, and Native American organizations. The CFDA listing referenced is 15.517 (Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act). The listed grants management contact is Timothy Wagoner (801-524-3704) for access or announcement issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring Below Flaming Gorge Dam opportunity?
It is a small, targeted cooperative agreement from the Bureau of Reclamation (Upper Colorado Region) to support ongoing ecological monitoring in the Green River system downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam in Utah. The monitoring is meant to help protect and understand a nationally well-known tailwater trout fishery by tracking habitat and food-base conditions that affect trout growth and fishery quality.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is R13SS40016.
What type of award is being offered?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement under the environment funding activity category.
How much funding is available?
The total award amount is $20,000. Both the ceiling and the floor are listed as $20,000.
How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Why is this monitoring needed?
The monitoring addresses concerns that changes in dam operations (including newly implemented daily double peak flow operations) and broader hydrologic variability (high water versus low water years) can alter river conditions. Those shifts can reduce the quantity, accessibility, or nutritional value of aquatic invertebrates trout rely on for food, which can then reduce trout growth and overall fishery quality. The monitoring is intended to serve as an early warning system and provide scientific support for evaluating operational tradeoffs.
What is the main objective of the project?
The main objective is to continue long-term, standardized monitoring of the river ecosystem downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam and interpret current conditions in the context of historical data. A key emphasis is comparing ecosystem responses under the daily double peak flow regime versus other operational patterns, including above-power-plant flows that can occur in high water years.
Is this a continuation of an existing long-term dataset?
Yes. The project is explicitly designed as a continuation of a long-running dataset with quarterly sampling at established sites dating back to 1995, following the Vinson et al. (2006) protocol. Using the same methods and locations supports reliable detection of real ecological change over time.
Where will sampling take place?
Sampling will occur at nine established locations along the Green River corridor from Fontenelle Dam downstream to the Colorado state line at Swinging Bridge. These are the same sites that have been sampled quarterly since 1995.
Why include sites downstream of Fontenelle Dam?
Sampling downstream from Fontenelle Dam is described as especially useful because Fontenelle releases are characterized by single peak or constant daily flows. That provides a meaningful contrast to the daily double peak pattern associated with Flaming Gorge operations.
What kinds of data does the project integrate?
The grant supports collection and integration of two main categories of information: physical habitat conditions and biological (benthic) productivity.
What physical habitat data are used, and how are they obtained?
Physical data include stream discharge and water temperature. These are not collected anew by the project; instead, they are compiled from existing monitoring conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and incorporated into analyses.
Which gage stations are specifically referenced for flow and temperature records?
The solicitation references these USGS stations: Flaming Gorge Dam (USGS Station 092345000), Fontenelle Dam (Station 09211200), and Green River, Wyoming (Station 09216500).
What biological components are monitored?
Biological monitoring focuses on (1) epiphytic aquatic plants (attached algae and related growth on rock surfaces) and (2) benthic macroinvertebrates, which are described as the primary invertebrate prey base for trout.
How often is biological sampling conducted?
Sampling is seasonal and occurs four times per year: January, April, July, and September.
What protocol is used for sampling?
Sampling follows the established Vinson et al. (2006) protocol referenced in the opportunity description.
How is epiphytic plant standing stock measured?
At each riffle site, epiphytic plant standing stock is estimated by collecting from ten D50-sized rocks and scraping a fixed area (5.3 cm2) from the upper rock surface. Samples are frozen, returned to the lab, dried and weighed, and then combusted in a muffle furnace at 550 C for 2 hours to calculate ash-free dry mass (AFDM).
What is AFDM and why is it used?
AFDM stands for ash-free dry mass. It is used as a standard measure of organic biomass because it reflects organic material after mineral residue (ash) is removed through combustion.
How are macroinvertebrates sampled in the field?
Macroinvertebrates are sampled in riffles using a Hess net with a defined sampling area of 0.08 m2 and 250-micron mesh. Eight individual samples are taken at each site and composited.
Is there a specific habitat target for macroinvertebrate sampling?
When feasible, sampling targets areas below the minimum flow water line associated with 28 cms (800 cfs).
How are macroinvertebrate samples processed and identified in the lab?
In the lab, at least 300 organisms per composite sample are subsampled and identified under a dissecting microscope. The remainder of the sample is also searched to capture less common taxa that might be missed in the split.
To what taxonomic level are organisms identified?
Identification aims for the lowest practical level, typically species or genus for many aquatic insects when specimens are mature and intact. Some groups are identified at higher levels due to constraints, such as Chironomidae (midges) typically to subfamily and certain non-insect groups (notably Annelida) to Class or Order. Smaller, damaged, or very immature individuals may only be identifiable to family.
How are specimens archived?
Identified organisms from each sample are preserved together in museum-grade glass vials with 70% ethanol. Labels are written on waterproof paper in permanent carbon ink and include location, date, and a unique catalog number.
Who retains the archived samples, and can others access them?
Samples are retained in the investigators collection, but they are to be made available to others upon request and with Bureau of Reclamation permission.
What are the expected deliverables?
Deliverables focus on annual reporting and timely data sharing. Reports are expected to describe what was collected each year and place that year in historical perspective so trends related to dam operations and hydrology can be evaluated.
What content is expected in annual reports?
Reports are expected to include streamflow and temperature context, aquatic invertebrate occurrence and relative abundance, and aquatic plant biomass at each site.
Who should receive the data and reports?
Data are to be made quickly available to the Bureau of Reclamation, Western Area Power Administration, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and other researchers, particularly to support modeling and related analyses.
When are progress reports due?
Annual progress reports are due no later than March 31 each year.
When is the final report due?
A final report is required on or before the agreement expiration date.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state and local governments, nonprofits, public and private institutions, tribal governments, individuals, small businesses, for-profit organizations, and Native American organizations.
What CFDA program is referenced?
The referenced CFDA listing is 15.517 (Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act).
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted May 2, 2013, and closed May 15, 2013. It is noted as archived May 16, 2013.
Who is the listed grants management contact for access or announcement issues?
The listed grants management contact is Timothy Wagoner at 801-524-3704.
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