BLM WY 2010 Buffalo Field Office Sage Grouse Lek Survey Coordination | Apply Online

FAQs: BLM WY 2010 Buffalo Field Office Sage Grouse Lek Survey Coordination (BLM WY RFA10 9002)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a small, targeted Bureau of Land Management (BLM) discretionary funding opportunity in Wyoming focused on coordinating greater sage-grouse lek survey efforts in the Powder River Basin. The goal is to improve how lek surveys are planned and carried out by reducing duplicated monitoring visits.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is BLM WY RFA10 9002.

Which BLM office is associated with this project?

The project is associated with the BLM Buffalo Field Office in Wyoming.

What species and habitat activity does the project focus on?

The project focuses on greater sage-grouse and specifically on lek surveys. Leks are breeding display sites where the birds are particularly sensitive to repeated human presence during the breeding season.

What problem is BLM trying to solve with this project?

The Buffalo Field Office identified that the main issue was not too little monitoring, but too much duplicated monitoring. Due to Coal Bed Natural Gas (CBNG) permitting requirements, multiple wildlife consultants were independently visiting the same leks, sometimes up to a dozen times in a single year.

Why was there so much duplicated lek monitoring?

CBNG well permits often included conditions of approval requiring lek monitoring. Because survey efforts were not coordinated, multiple operators and consultants were conducting overlapping site visits to satisfy monitoring requirements.

How many lek visits per year did BLM consider effective for monitoring?

BLM determined that effective lek monitoring could be achieved with roughly three visits per year, and that additional visits were generally unnecessary and driven by lack of coordination rather than scientific need.

What is the main objective of the project?

The central objective is to reduce impacts to breeding greater sage-grouse by cutting down on avoidable disturbance at leks while still meeting monitoring needs tied to development and permitting requirements.

How does coordinating surveys support conservation?

By coordinating survey schedules and consolidating data collection, the project is intended to reduce repeated, overlapping human visitation at sensitive breeding sites. This approach supports conservation of a BLM sensitive species while maintaining necessary monitoring for resource management and development compliance.

What kinds of activities would this grant likely support?

Based on the description provided, the funded work would be expected to emphasize coordination mechanisms, such as organizing a shared survey schedule, consolidating data collection across operators and consultants, and creating a streamlined approach so monitoring requirements can be met without repeated, redundant site visits.

Is this a research-focused project or a coordination-focused project?

It is framed primarily as a coordination and resource management effort rather than an effort to increase the amount of monitoring. The emphasis is on reducing duplication and disturbance while still achieving effective monitoring outcomes.

What agency issued the opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the U.S. Department of the Interior.

What type of award instrument is anticipated?

The funding instrument identified for this opportunity is a Cooperative Agreement.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Natural Resources.

What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.231: Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.

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 $5,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could apply, as long as it met any additional criteria described in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted and created on December 1, 2009.

What was the application closing date?

The original and current closing date was December 8, 2009.

How long was the application window?

Based on the dates provided, the application window ran from December 1, 2009 to December 8, 2009.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was later archived on March 31, 2010.

Who can applicants contact for help accessing the full announcement?

The listed contact for assistance was Ilze J. Karklins Powers, Grants Management Officer, reachable at ipowers@blm.gov.

What geographic area does the project target?

The project targets Wyoming, specifically the Powder River Basin area associated with the Buffalo Field Office.

How is this opportunity connected to development activities like CBNG?

The project responds to duplicated lek monitoring created by CBNG permitting requirements. By coordinating surveys, the project aims to meet monitoring obligations related to development while reducing unnecessary disturbance at leks.

Why is reducing repeated lek visits important?

Leks are breeding display sites and are especially sensitive during the breeding season. The project is designed to reduce avoidable human disturbance caused by repeated, overlapping survey visits.

Is this opportunity described as competitive or discretionary?

It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.