CESU, BLM AZ Yuma Field Office (YFO) Flat tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) (FTHL) Corridor/Linkage Analysis | Apply Online

Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Corridor/Linkage Analysis Grant (BLM CESU) - FAQs

1) What is this grant opportunity about?

This opportunity funds a corridor or habitat linkage analysis for the flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii). The intent is to improve understanding of where functional habitat connections exist (or should exist) between populations so land managers can make better planning and conservation decisions.

2) Which agency is offering the funding?

The funding is offered through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network.

3) What conservation strategy is this project connected to?

The project is grounded in long-running, multi-agency conservation planning for the species, especially the 1997 Conservation Agreement and the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Interagency Coordinating Committee Range-wide Management Strategy (RMS).

4) What is the main problem the project is meant to address?

Large portions of historical flat-tailed horned lizard habitat have not been adequately surveyed. Because of that, land managers do not have enough information to confidently map functional habitat linkages or determine where corridors should be protected or restored.

5) Why are habitat corridors important for this species?

A key action in the RMS is to identify, establish, and maintain effective habitat corridors between naturally adjacent populations so there is at least occasional interchange among populations. This helps reduce isolation and supports long-term persistence.

6) Where is the project geographically focused?

The RMS addresses stable, long-term, viable populations across five U.S. management areas, including the Yuma Desert Management Area in Arizona and several management areas in California (East Mesa, West Mesa, Yuha Desert, and Borrego Badlands). The announcement highlights a specific potential linkage area between the Dos Palmas Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in Riverside County, California and the East Mesa ACEC in Imperial County, California.

7) What corridor area is specifically highlighted as a priority?

The announcement calls out a potential linkage between the Dos Palmas ACEC (Riverside County, CA) and the East Mesa ACEC (Imperial County, CA) as a corridor of particular management interest.

8) Why is the Dos Palmas-to-East Mesa corridor of special management interest?

This corridor may overlap with areas attractive for large-scale renewable energy development. Better information is needed to guide land-use decisions and avoid breaking connectivity between populations.

9) What are the stated objectives of the project?

The project has a twofold objective: (1) provide research opportunities for students through the CESU framework, and (2) produce practical management recommendations for the public and land managers on flat-tailed horned lizard populations and habitat, specifically as those recommendations relate to a distribution model.

10) What kinds of outputs are expected from the work?

The expected end product is not only a technical distribution/habitat suitability and connectivity model, but also clear, practical management recommendations. These recommendations are intended to help identify where corridors likely occur, where surveys should be prioritized, and which areas may be most important to maintain as linkages.

11) Does the opportunity emphasize student involvement?

Yes. A stated purpose is to provide research opportunities for students through the CESU framework, which emphasizes partnerships between agencies and research institutions and aims to connect researchers, practitioners, and educators.

12) What type of funding mechanism is being used?

This is a discretionary funding action using a cooperative agreement. That means the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project rather than issuing a grant with minimal interaction.

13) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The program is listed under CFDA 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management).

14) How many awards are anticipated?

The anticipated number of awards is one.

15) What is the estimated total funding available?

The estimated total funding amount is $100,000.

16) What are the minimum and maximum award amounts?

The award ceiling is $100,000 and the award floor is $20,000.

17) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to CESU members. While a general field may read as unrestricted, the eligibility section clarifies the CESU requirement by stating "Any CESU Member."

19) How and where were proposals required to be submitted?

Proposals were due electronically through Grants.gov.

20) What was the proposal due date and time?

The deadline was August 15, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

21) Were late submissions accepted?

No. Late submissions were not to be considered.

22) When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?

The announcement was posted July 11, 2014 and was archived on August 20, 2014.

23) Who is the contact person for access or administrative questions?

The listed contact is Eddie W. Bell Jr., Grants Management Officer. Phone: 602-417-9268. Email: ebell@blm.gov.

24) What is the broader management goal this project supports?

The project supports the range-wide goal described in the RMS: maintaining stable, long-term, viable flat-tailed horned lizard populations across multiple management areas by reducing isolation and sustaining connectivity through effective habitat corridors.

25) What planning gap is this funding meant to fill?

It aims to fill a specific scientific and planning gap: identifying and evaluating habitat connectivity for a sensitive desert species in an area where competing land uses (including renewable energy development) could affect corridor integrity.