Opportunity Information: Apply for L16AS00018
Apply for L16AS00018
- The DOI-BLM in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM (Arizona), Desert Southwest CESU (DS CESU) BLM (YFO) WYDEN AMENDMENT WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGMENT" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 11, 2016 and posted on Jan 11, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 11, 2016. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The BLM (Arizona) Desert Southwest CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L16AS00018) is a Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management discretionary funding announcement that uses a cooperative agreement to support on-the-ground wildlife habitat management and related applied science in and around the BLM Yuma Field Office (YFO). It is structured under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network, a large national partnership of federal agencies, universities, tribes, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations. Within that network, the Desert Southwest CESU (DSCESU) is positioned to connect research capacity with land-management needs across the Desert Southwest, emphasizing collaboration among scientists, managers, educators, and the public so that management actions are informed by practical research and shared technical expertise.
The FOA anticipates two total awards (two separate projects) with an award ceiling of $250,000 and an open eligibility approach described as “unrestricted,” subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. The funding activity category is Natural Resources (CFDA 15.231). The posting and creation date were January 11, 2016, and the closing date was March 11, 2016. While the announcement is framed as “Wyden Amendment Wildlife Habitat Management,” the core focus is straightforward: restoring and maintaining functioning habitats on BLM-managed lands that have been heavily altered by river regulation, wildfire, invasive species, and desert development pressures, while building partnerships and public engagement around those conservation outcomes.
Project 1 centers on riparian and marsh habitat rehabilitation along the lower Colorado River and Gila River within the Yuma Field Office. These river corridors have been dramatically changed over time by extensive damming and conversion of floodplain areas to uplands, which has shifted formerly natural river systems toward landscapes dominated by invasive plants. Compounding those pressures, an increase in wildland fires has further reduced native vegetation and accelerated invasion by non-native species. The project is framed around the idea that targeted rehabilitation and restoration can rebuild native riparian function, which in turn supports migratory birds and other wildlife by improving foraging conditions and potential nesting habitat. A major driver for this work is the 2015 Mittry Lake Fire, which burned substantial areas of native marsh and riparian vegetation at Mittry Lake, an area noted for supporting the largest population of the federally endangered Yuma clapper rail and also providing important migratory habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher. The Mittry Lake Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) Plan is the guiding reference for replacing habitat values lost to the fire and re-establishing the vegetation structure and ecological conditions those species depend on.
The objectives for Project 1 emphasize both ecological function and public value. On the ecological side, the agreement aims to improve wildlife habitat by restoring “properly functioning” native riparian habitats in degraded or minimally functioning areas along the lower Colorado and Gila Rivers, with the expectation that this will help reverse trends caused by fire and invasive species dominance. On the social and programmatic side, the project is also meant to strengthen partnerships and encourage public involvement, with an explicit goal of helping the public better appreciate Arizona wildlife and habitats so those resources remain available for future generations. The work is tied directly to existing BLM planning and compliance frameworks, specifically the Yuma Resource Management Plan and associated Biological Opinion, which provide the management rationale for improving degraded habitat, addressing wildfire impacts, and extending habitat resources for sensitive and listed species.
Project 2 shifts to upland desert ecosystems managed by the Yuma Field Office within the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. Here, the habitat stressors are described less in terms of wildfire and more in terms of land-use pressure: recreation, renewable energy development, and other forms of development have contributed to the decline and fragmentation of desert habitats. A focal species is the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (FTHL), identified in the announcement as a California proposed listed species, along with other upland desert species that depend on intact desert conditions. The project highlights the practical need for monitoring and data work as a foundation for effective management. In other words, collecting, analyzing, and interpreting field data is positioned as essential for generating recommendations that can be used by state and federal agencies in both Arizona and California to refine future management strategies.
The objectives for Project 2 mirror the habitat-function and public-engagement themes of Project 1, but applied to desert habitats rather than riparian corridors. The purpose is to improve wildlife habitat by maintaining or restoring properly functioning habitat conditions across the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts, again with an emphasis on partnerships and public involvement. The public-facing goal is similar as well: building appreciation for desert wildlife and habitats across Arizona and California so these species and landscapes persist into the future. This project is explicitly linked to the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Interagency Committee’s Resource Management Strategy, and it is also framed as consistent with the Yuma Resource Management Plan and associated Biological Opinion, particularly where those planning documents call for addressing habitat degradation linked to development and for extending habitat resources that support the species the public values.
Taken together, the opportunity is essentially a two-part habitat management and applied science package for the BLM Yuma Field Office: one part aimed at riparian/marsh recovery after wildfire and long-term river alteration (with special attention to Yuma clapper rail and southwestern willow flycatcher habitat), and the other aimed at desert habitat monitoring and management to inform cross-jurisdictional conservation (with special attention to the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard). The cooperative agreement structure signals that BLM expects substantial coordination and shared responsibility with the recipient, consistent with CESU’s mission of bridging research, technical assistance, education, and practical land stewardship.
FAQs - BLM (Arizona) Desert Southwest CESU Grant Opportunity (L16AS00018)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) discretionary funding opportunity issued under the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (DSCESU). It uses a cooperative agreement to support on-the-ground wildlife habitat management and related applied science in and around the BLM Yuma Field Office (YFO).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L16AS00018.
Which BLM office and geographic area does this opportunity focus on?
The work is focused in and around the BLM Yuma Field Office (YFO) in Arizona, including key areas along the lower Colorado River and Gila River (Project 1) and upland desert ecosystems within the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts managed by the YFO (Project 2).
What type of award is being used?
The announcement states the award will be made through a cooperative agreement, indicating BLM expects substantial coordination, collaboration, and shared responsibility with the recipient.
How many awards does the FOA anticipate?
The FOA anticipates two total awards, described as two separate projects.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $250,000.
What is the overall purpose of this opportunity?
The overall purpose is to restore and maintain functioning habitats on BLM-managed lands that have been heavily altered by river regulation, wildfire, invasive species, and desert development pressures, while building partnerships and public engagement around those conservation outcomes.
How is this opportunity described in the announcement?
The announcement is framed as "Wyden Amendment Wildlife Habitat Management," with a core focus on habitat restoration/maintenance and applied science to inform management.
What funding activity category and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the CFDA number listed is 15.231.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting and creation date were January 11, 2016, and the closing date was March 11, 2016.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.
What is the CESU Network, and why does it matter for this opportunity?
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network is a national partnership that includes federal agencies, universities, tribes, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations. This opportunity is structured under that network, and the Desert Southwest CESU (DSCESU) is intended to connect research capacity with land-management needs across the Desert Southwest through collaboration among scientists, managers, educators, and the public.
What kinds of activities are supported?
Based on the description provided, supported activities include on-the-ground wildlife habitat management, habitat rehabilitation/restoration, monitoring and field data collection, and applied science activities that generate practical management recommendations. The opportunity also emphasizes partnership-building and public involvement tied to those conservation outcomes.
What are the two projects described in the FOA?
Project 1 focuses on riparian and marsh habitat rehabilitation along the lower Colorado River and Gila River within the Yuma Field Office. Project 2 focuses on upland desert ecosystems in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts managed by the Yuma Field Office, with an emphasis on monitoring and data work to inform habitat management.
What is the focus of Project 1?
Project 1 centers on restoring and maintaining native riparian and marsh habitat function along the lower Colorado River and Gila River, especially in areas degraded by river regulation (such as damming and floodplain conversion), invasive plant dominance, and increased wildland fire.
Why is wildfire specifically important in Project 1?
The opportunity highlights increased wildland fires as a key driver of habitat loss and invasive species expansion in riparian and marsh areas. A major driver cited is the 2015 Mittry Lake Fire, which burned substantial areas of native marsh and riparian vegetation at Mittry Lake.
What is the Mittry Lake Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) Plan?
It is the guiding reference mentioned for Project 1. It is described as guiding efforts to replace habitat values lost to the 2015 Mittry Lake Fire and to re-establish the vegetation structure and ecological conditions needed by key species.
Which species are specifically highlighted under Project 1?
Project 1 highlights habitat needs for migratory birds and other wildlife, with specific attention to the federally endangered Yuma clapper rail (noted as having its largest population at Mittry Lake) and the southwestern willow flycatcher (described as relying on important migratory habitat in the area).
What are the main objectives of Project 1?
Ecologically, the objective is to improve wildlife habitat by restoring properly functioning native riparian habitats in degraded or minimally functioning areas along the lower Colorado and Gila Rivers, helping reverse trends driven by fire and invasive species dominance. Socially and programmatically, the objective includes strengthening partnerships and encouraging public involvement so the public better appreciates Arizona wildlife and habitats for future generations.
What plans or compliance frameworks is Project 1 tied to?
Project 1 is tied to the Yuma Resource Management Plan and its associated Biological Opinion, which are described as providing the management rationale for improving degraded habitat, addressing wildfire impacts, and extending habitat resources for sensitive and listed species.
What is the focus of Project 2?
Project 2 focuses on upland desert habitats in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts managed by the Yuma Field Office. It emphasizes monitoring and field data collection, analysis, and interpretation as a foundation for effective management and for developing recommendations used by state and federal agencies.
What habitat stressors are emphasized in Project 2?
Project 2 emphasizes land-use pressure and habitat fragmentation associated with recreation, renewable energy development, and other development in desert ecosystems.
Which species are specifically highlighted under Project 2?
The focal species is the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (FTHL), identified in the announcement as a California proposed listed species. The project also references other upland desert species that depend on intact desert conditions.
Why is monitoring and data work emphasized in Project 2?
The project description positions monitoring, data collection, and analysis as essential for producing management recommendations that can be used by state and federal agencies in both Arizona and California to refine future management strategies.
What are the main objectives of Project 2?
The objectives are to improve wildlife habitat by maintaining or restoring properly functioning habitat conditions across the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts and to strengthen partnerships and public involvement. A related goal is building appreciation for desert wildlife and habitats across Arizona and California so species and landscapes persist over time.
What strategies or plans is Project 2 linked to?
Project 2 is explicitly linked to the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Interagency Committee's Resource Management Strategy. It is also framed as consistent with the Yuma Resource Management Plan and its associated Biological Opinion, particularly regarding addressing habitat degradation linked to development and extending habitat resources that support valued species.
How do partnerships and public involvement fit into this FOA?
Both projects explicitly include goals to strengthen partnerships and encourage public involvement. The CESU framework also emphasizes collaboration among scientists, managers, educators, and the public so that management actions are informed by practical research and shared technical expertise.
What is meant by "properly functioning" habitat in the context provided?
In the context provided, "properly functioning" refers to native habitat conditions that support ecological function and wildlife needs, particularly in areas that have become degraded, minimally functioning, or dominated by invasive species due to altered river systems, wildfire impacts, and development pressures.
Are these projects limited to Arizona only?
Project activities are centered on BLM-managed lands in and around the Yuma Field Office, but Project 2 explicitly notes that findings and recommendations may be used by state and federal agencies in both Arizona and California.
What is the role of applied science in this opportunity?
Applied science is described as a key component alongside on-the-ground habitat management. In particular, Project 2 highlights field data collection, analysis, and interpretation to generate practical recommendations, and the overall CESU approach emphasizes using practical research and shared technical expertise to inform land-management actions.
How are invasive species addressed in this opportunity?
Invasive plants are identified as a major challenge in riparian and marsh systems along the lower Colorado and Gila Rivers, especially where river regulation and wildfire have shifted conditions toward invasive dominance. Project 1 is framed around rehabilitation/restoration to rebuild native riparian function in these altered areas.
What is the connection between river regulation and habitat conditions in Project 1?
The opportunity explains that extensive damming and conversion of floodplain areas to uplands have dramatically changed the river corridors over time, shifting formerly natural river systems toward landscapes dominated by invasive plants and contributing to degraded riparian conditions.
What is the central theme that ties the two projects together?
Both projects focus on improving wildlife habitat conditions on BLM-managed lands in the Yuma Field Office area through habitat management supported by applied science, while also strengthening partnerships and increasing public involvement and appreciation for wildlife and habitats.
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