Opportunity Information: Apply for L15AS00165
Apply for L15AS00165
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM Alaska System for Mapping and Predicting Species of Concern (SOMC) Aquatic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231 Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 10, 2015 and posted on Jun 10, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 11, 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 $350,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska grant opportunity titled "BLM Alaska System for Mapping and Predicting Species of Concern (SOMC) Aquatic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM)" focuses on improving how Alaska identifies, maps, and predicts the presence of fish and other aquatic species of concern across a very large and currently under-inventoried landscape. The core problem driving the project is that Alaska has an enormous stream network (about 365,000 miles), yet fewer than 50 miles of streams have been inventoried for fish distribution. At the same time, increasing tourism and potential future development raise the likelihood of non-native aquatic invasive species being introduced, creating an urgent need for earlier detection and more cost-effective monitoring tools.
The project is designed to expand and strengthen an existing Aquatic AIM effort by adding environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to field assessments. eDNA refers to genetic material shed by organisms into their environment (for example, into stream or lake water). By collecting water samples and analyzing them for DNA traces, researchers may be able to detect whether certain species are present in a watershed without needing to physically capture or observe the animals. Under this opportunity, the selected partner would develop and test methods to determine how reliably eDNA can detect a species of concern (SOC). "Species of concern" is framed broadly and can include resident fish, anadromous fish, and aquatic invasive species, among others. A major technical need highlighted in the announcement is the creation of genetic marker profiles for Alaska species of concern, meaning the project would have to establish the reference genetic signatures necessary to correctly identify species from DNA found in environmental samples.
Another key component is testing whether the public can help collect samples suitable for eDNA analysis. This "public-collected samples" idea is essentially a scalability strategy: if members of the public can gather samples correctly (following consistent protocols that avoid contamination and preserve DNA quality), the state could dramatically expand coverage across remote areas and improve understanding of fish distribution across Alaska. This citizen-supported sampling concept also supports earlier detection of invasive species by increasing the number of places that can be checked at a lower cost than traditional survey methods.
The opportunity also emphasizes integrating geospatial and Earth observation data to create species distribution models. In practical terms, this means combining eDNA results and other biological observations with mapped environmental variables derived from remote sensing and other spatial datasets (for example, landscape characteristics, hydrology, temperature proxies, habitat features, and related predictors) to model where species of concern are likely to occur. The intended outcome is a predictive mapping capability that can estimate SOC presence across large areas, including places that have not yet been sampled, helping managers prioritize future fieldwork and focus invasive-species surveillance where risk is highest.
Geographically, the project is statewide in intent, but the first year is targeted specifically to the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). After the first year, additional areas would be chosen depending on BLM funding priorities. The overall goal is to produce a practical toolset and workflow that makes it cheaper and more effective to determine species occurrence across Alaska, supporting long-term productivity of priority aquatic resources and strengthening early detection capacity for aquatic invasive species introductions.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement, reflecting an expectation of active collaboration between BLM and the award recipient. The program aligns with CFDA 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management). BLM anticipated making a single award with an estimated total funding amount of $350,000, with an award ceiling of $350,000 and a floor of $1,000. No cost sharing or matching was required. Eligible applicants were limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, positioning universities and similar institutions as the intended applicants for delivering the scientific development, testing, and modeling work. The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L15AS00165) was posted on June 10, 2015, with a closing date of August 11, 2015, and it was later archived on December 31, 2020. For access issues or questions, the listed contact was Betty Lockard, Grant Specialist at BLM (907-271-2816, blockard@blm.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this BLM Alaska grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "BLM Alaska System for Mapping and Predicting Species of Concern (SOMC) Aquatic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM)."
What problem is this project trying to solve?
The project addresses a major information gap in Alaska: the state has an enormous stream network (about 365,000 miles), but fewer than 50 miles of streams have been inventoried for fish distribution. At the same time, increasing tourism and potential future development increase the risk of non-native aquatic invasive species introductions, creating a need for earlier detection and more cost-effective monitoring across a very large and under-inventoried landscape.
What is the main goal of the grant?
The main goal is to improve how Alaska identifies, maps, and predicts the presence of fish and other aquatic species of concern across broad areas, including locations that have not yet been sampled, by strengthening Aquatic AIM and adding environmental DNA (eDNA) methods plus geospatial modeling.
What is Aquatic AIM in this context?
Aquatic AIM refers to an existing Aquatic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring effort that this project is intended to expand and strengthen. This opportunity specifically adds eDNA sampling to field assessments to improve detection and expand coverage.
What is environmental DNA (eDNA), and why is it being used?
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is genetic material shed by organisms into their environment (for example, into stream or lake water). By collecting water samples and analyzing them for DNA traces, the project aims to detect whether certain species are present in a watershed without needing to physically capture or observe the animals, potentially making monitoring more scalable and cost-effective.
What kinds of species are considered "species of concern" (SOC) for this project?
"Species of concern" is framed broadly. It can include resident fish, anadromous fish, aquatic invasive species, and other aquatic species of concern referenced by the project.
What technical development does the opportunity highlight as a major need?
A major technical need is creating genetic marker profiles for Alaska species of concern. In practice, this means establishing reference genetic signatures needed to correctly identify species from DNA found in environmental samples.
What will the selected partner be expected to do with eDNA methods?
The selected partner would develop and test methods to determine how reliably eDNA can detect a species of concern, and support the creation of the genetic marker profiles required to interpret eDNA results for Alaska SOCs.
Does the project include testing whether the public can collect eDNA samples?
Yes. A key component is testing whether members of the public can help collect samples suitable for eDNA analysis. This includes assessing whether public-collected samples can be gathered correctly using consistent protocols that avoid contamination and preserve DNA quality.
Why does the opportunity emphasize public-collected samples?
Public-collected samples are presented as a scalability strategy. If the public can collect usable samples correctly, coverage could expand dramatically across remote areas, improving understanding of fish distribution and supporting earlier detection of aquatic invasive species at a lower cost than traditional survey methods.
How will geospatial and Earth observation data be used in this project?
The project emphasizes integrating geospatial and Earth observation data with eDNA results and other biological observations to build species distribution models. These models combine mapped environmental variables derived from remote sensing and other spatial datasets (such as landscape characteristics, hydrology, temperature proxies, and habitat features) to predict where species of concern are likely to occur.
What is the intended outcome of the species distribution modeling work?
The intended outcome is a predictive mapping capability that can estimate species-of-concern presence across large areas, including locations that have not been sampled, helping managers prioritize future fieldwork and focus invasive-species surveillance where risk is highest.
Where will the project take place?
The project is statewide in intent, but the first year is targeted specifically to the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). After the first year, additional areas would be chosen depending on BLM funding priorities.
How does this effort support invasive species early detection?
The project supports early detection by improving monitoring tools (eDNA and predictive mapping) and by exploring public-supported sampling to increase the number of locations that can be checked for aquatic invasive species introductions more quickly and cost-effectively.
What type of funding mechanism is this opportunity?
This was a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement, which indicates an expectation of active collaboration between BLM and the award recipient.
How many awards did BLM anticipate making?
BLM anticipated making a single award.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $350,000.
What were the award ceiling and floor?
The award ceiling was $350,000, and the award floor was $1,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching was required.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, such as universities and similar institutions.
Which program does this opportunity align with (CFDA)?
The opportunity aligns with CFDA 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L15AS00165.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on June 10, 2015, and the closing date was August 11, 2015.
Is the opportunity still active?
No. The opportunity was later archived on December 31, 2020.
Who was the listed contact for access issues or questions?
The listed contact was Betty Lockard, Grant Specialist at BLM. Phone: 907-271-2816. Email: blockard@blm.gov.
What kinds of outputs are implied by the opportunity description?
Based on the description, expected outputs include eDNA sampling and analysis methods for SOC detection, genetic marker profiles (reference signatures) for Alaska SOCs, testing results on public-collected sampling feasibility, and integrated species distribution modeling that supports predictive mapping and management prioritization.
What makes this project "statewide in intent" even though it starts in one area?
The first year is focused on NPR-A, but the overarching objective is to produce a practical toolset and workflow for broader Alaska application. After year one, expansion to additional areas is anticipated based on BLM funding priorities.
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