Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS RGCT R2
Apply for FWS RGCT R2
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CLIMATE CHANGE RGCT" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650 Research Grants (Generic).
- This funding opportunity was created on May 19, 2009 and posted on May 20, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 27, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000.00 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.
- This is a single source determination grant. The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location and technical expertise.
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Opportunity Summary:
The CLIMATE CHANGE RGCT grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: FWS RGCT R2) is a small, targeted Fish and Wildlife Service research grant focused on understanding how climate change could alter the distribution and persistence of Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis). The core idea is to connect what is known (and still being learned) about the trout's temperature tolerance to real temperature conditions in streams the species currently occupies or could occupy in the future. By doing that, the project aims to sharpen the assessment of how serious climate-driven warming and hydrologic shifts may be for this coldwater subspecies.
The project is built around a few practical research objectives. First, it calls for comparing historical stream temperature patterns to more recent stream temperature conditions across the Rio Grande cutthroat trout's range. Second, it emphasizes quantifying how stream temperatures relate to air temperatures and to other environmental drivers that matter in mountain watersheds, especially snowpack and stream discharge. Since trout experience water temperature directly, but water temperature is shaped by both climate and runoff dynamics, the grant stresses that a simple air-temperature-only approach is not enough; the analysis should capture how snowpack timing, melt runoff volume, and streamflow influence temperature extremes and variability.
The background for the work comes from the species' conservation status. In 2008, Rio Grande cutthroat trout became a candidate species (73 FR 27900), and the Candidate Assessment highlighted climate change as a major concern with multiple pathways of impact. One of the most direct and biologically important pathways is rising water temperature throughout the trout's life cycle. Like many coldwater trout, RGCT likely depends on a relatively narrow band of cool to cold habitat conditions, but at the time of the announcement, the species' temperature preferences and tolerances had not been fully studied. Laboratory work on temperature tolerance was already underway, and this grant is positioned to extend that work into field-relevant interpretation by documenting what temperatures fish have historically experienced and what they may face now.
The scope of work combines historical data mining with field monitoring planning and early-stage implementation. On the historical side, the project involves gathering and analyzing long-term stream temperature information from RGCT streams, pulling from federal and state sources and nationally available datasets (the announcement references resources such as NHD and PRISM). The analysis is expected to produce monthly watershed summaries of average high and low temperatures, precipitation, and accumulated precipitation. A specific deliverable embedded in the scope is tallying the number of days that stream temperatures exceed key thresholds: 72, 75, and 80 degrees F (22.2, 23.9, and 26.7 degrees C). These thresholds are used as a way to quantify potentially stressful or unsuitable thermal conditions and to compare how frequently such events occur across time periods and locations. The compiled historical data is to be organized and summarized in Microsoft Access, indicating an emphasis on building a structured, reusable dataset rather than a one-off analysis.
On the monitoring side, the opportunity recognizes that stream temperature depends on more than just air temperature, particularly in snowmelt-driven systems. The grant therefore prioritizes watersheds that meet three criteria: they are occupied by RGCT, they have a SNOTEL snow gauge (to track snowpack), and they have a stream gauge (to track discharge). These paired measurements allow researchers to examine how snowpack and runoff interact with air temperature to produce stream temperature conditions. Because precipitation and temperature vary substantially year to year, the announcement frames the effort as inherently multi-year, even though only one year of research funding is provided initially. The longer-term intent is to build a monitoring record over many years, and the historical analysis is expected to inform recommendations for deploying thermographs (temperature loggers) to collect contemporary stream temperature data that can be directly compared with historical patterns.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant using a grant funding instrument, categorized under environmental research (CFDA 15.650, Research Grants - Generic). It was designed as a single award for a total of $5,000, with both the award floor and ceiling set at $5,000, and it does not require cost sharing or matching. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, but the announcement explicitly notes it is a single-source determination, meaning the agency had a specific applicant in mind based on unique qualifications such as location and technical expertise. The text points to the USGS Cooperative Unit at New Mexico State University as the hub of RGCT temperature-tolerance research, and the cooperative agreement structure is meant to link their laboratory work to field conditions and management-relevant interpretation.
From the agency side, the Fish and Wildlife Service positions this work within a broader goal of becoming a leader in assessing climate change effects on fish and wildlife. The Service commits to an active technical role by providing guidance, subject-matter expertise, and direct support to the graduate student conducting the research. Progress oversight is planned through monthly calls to monitor status, offer suggestions, and evaluate emerging results. The opportunity was posted May 20, 2009, with a closing date of May 27, 2009, and an archive date of May 28, 2009. The listed contact for access issues is Marilyn Myers (marilynmyers@fws.gov, 505-761-4754).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - CLIMATE CHANGE RGCT (FWS RGCT R2)
What is the CLIMATE CHANGE RGCT grant opportunity?
The CLIMATE CHANGE RGCT grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: FWS RGCT R2) is a small, targeted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service research grant focused on understanding how climate change could alter the distribution and persistence of Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis).
What is the main goal of the project?
The central goal is to connect what is known (and still being learned) about Rio Grande cutthroat trout temperature tolerance to real stream temperature conditions in streams the species currently occupies or may occupy in the future. This is intended to improve assessments of risks from climate-driven warming and hydrologic shifts, especially in coldwater mountain systems.
Why does this project focus on stream temperature?
Stream temperature is a direct and biologically important pathway by which climate change can affect Rio Grande cutthroat trout throughout their life cycle. The opportunity notes that the subspecies likely depends on a relatively narrow band of cool to cold habitat conditions, and rising water temperature is highlighted as a major concern.
How does the opportunity treat the relationship between air temperature and stream temperature?
The opportunity stresses that an air-temperature-only approach is not sufficient. Stream temperature is influenced not only by air temperature, but also by other watershed drivers, especially snowpack and stream discharge (runoff dynamics). The work is expected to capture how snowpack timing, melt runoff volume, and streamflow influence temperature extremes and variability.
What are the key research objectives described in the announcement?
The opportunity describes several practical objectives, including:
- Comparing historical stream temperature patterns to more recent stream temperature conditions across the Rio Grande cutthroat trout range.
- Quantifying how stream temperatures relate to air temperatures and other environmental drivers, particularly snowpack and stream discharge.
- Producing summaries that support management-relevant interpretation of climate and hydrologic effects on thermal habitat conditions.
What historical data work is expected under the scope of work?
The project includes gathering and analyzing long-term stream temperature information from Rio Grande cutthroat trout streams using federal and state sources and nationally available datasets. The announcement references nationally available resources such as NHD and PRISM as examples of data resources that may be used.
What kinds of summary outputs are expected from the watershed analysis?
The analysis is expected to produce monthly watershed summaries of:
- Average high and low temperatures
- Precipitation
- Accumulated precipitation
Are there specific temperature thresholds the project must analyze?
Yes. A specific deliverable is tallying the number of days stream temperatures exceed each of these thresholds: 72, 75, and 80 degrees F (22.2, 23.9, and 26.7 degrees C). These thresholds are used to quantify potentially stressful or unsuitable thermal conditions and to compare frequency across locations and time periods.
How should the compiled historical temperature data be organized?
The opportunity specifies that the compiled historical data should be organized and summarized in Microsoft Access, reflecting an emphasis on creating a structured, reusable dataset.
What field monitoring elements are included or planned?
The scope combines historical data mining with field monitoring planning and early-stage implementation. The longer-term intent is to build a multi-year monitoring record, and the historical analysis is expected to inform recommendations for deploying thermographs (temperature loggers) to collect contemporary stream temperature data comparable to historical patterns.
What types of watersheds are prioritized for monitoring?
The opportunity prioritizes watersheds that meet three criteria:
- They are occupied by Rio Grande cutthroat trout (RGCT).
- They have a SNOTEL snow gauge (to track snowpack).
- They have a stream gauge (to track discharge).
These paired measurements are intended to support analysis of how snowpack and runoff interact with air temperature to shape stream temperature conditions.
Is this intended to be a multi-year project?
The announcement frames the effort as inherently multi-year because precipitation and temperature vary substantially from year to year. However, only one year of research funding is provided initially, with an intent to build a longer monitoring record over many years.
What is the conservation background that motivated this work?
The opportunity references the species conservation status and notes that in 2008 Rio Grande cutthroat trout became a candidate species (73 FR 27900). The Candidate Assessment highlighted climate change as a major concern with multiple pathways of impact, including rising water temperature.
What is the funding instrument and program category for this award?
This is a discretionary grant using a grant funding instrument and is categorized under environmental research. The CFDA listing is 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic).
How much funding is available?
The opportunity was designed as a single award totaling $5,000. Both the award floor and the award ceiling are $5,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that it does not require cost sharing or matching.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Is this an open competition?
No. The announcement explicitly notes it is a single-source determination, meaning the agency had a specific applicant in mind based on unique qualifications such as location and technical expertise.
Which institution is referenced as a key hub for related research?
The text points to the USGS Cooperative Unit at New Mexico State University as the hub of Rio Grande cutthroat trout temperature-tolerance research, and indicates that the grant is intended to link their laboratory work to field conditions and management-relevant interpretation.
What role will the Fish and Wildlife Service play during the project?
The Fish and Wildlife Service indicates it will take an active technical role by providing guidance, subject-matter expertise, and direct support to the graduate student conducting the research. Progress oversight is planned through monthly calls to monitor status, offer suggestions, and evaluate emerging results.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 20, 2009. The closing date was May 27, 2009. The archive date was May 28, 2009.
Who is the contact for access issues?
The listed contact for access issues is Marilyn Myers. Email: marilynmyers@fws.gov. Phone: 505-761-4754.
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