Opportunity Information: Apply for G26AS00100
Apply for G26AS00100
- The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the California Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-30. (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 $270,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement through the California Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) to support applied research aimed at reducing mercury concentrations in recreational and sport fish. The project is built around ongoing USGS collaborations with partners connected to U.S. energy generation, recreation, and commercial fishing interests, and it focuses on freshwater settings where mercury biomagnification through aquatic food webs is a persistent and high-priority management challenge. Specifically, the work targets hydroelectric reservoirs, managed wetlands, and lakes, environments where methylmercury production in water and sediments can translate into elevated mercury levels in fish that people catch and eat.
At the core of the opportunity is a need for better data and interpretation on how methylmercury forms and moves through freshwater systems under different environmental and management conditions. The USGS is seeking a CESU partner to collect and interpret water and sediment data that can be paired with USGS ecological datasets to improve understanding of mercury risk across these environments. The project emphasizes that forecasting mercury outcomes is not straightforward because multiple processes can interact in ways that either amplify (synergistic effects) or dampen (antagonistic effects) methylmercury production and accumulation. A stronger grasp of these interacting processes is considered essential for predicting how management actions in reservoirs, wetlands, and lakes may ultimately affect mercury levels in fish.
The opportunity highlights recognized scientific drivers of mercury methylation, particularly the influence of dissolved organic matter chemistry and microbial processes, while noting that important knowledge gaps still limit the ability to predict how methylmercury production will respond to real-world management actions. By focusing on freshwater systems already being studied by USGS, the project aims to generate results that are immediately relevant to active management decisions while also being broadly applicable because the selected sites are meant to represent similar settings across the nation with urgent needs to reduce mercury in fish.
Administratively, this is a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant), meaning substantial involvement and collaboration with USGS is expected during the project. The funding opportunity number is G26AS00100 under CFDA 15.808, within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category. Eligibility is limited to organizations that are official participating partners in the California CESU Program. The opportunity anticipates one award with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $270,000. The posting date is March 30, 2026, and the application closing date is April 30, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through the California Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). It supports applied research aimed at reducing mercury concentrations in recreational and sport fish by improving understanding of methylmercury production and movement in freshwater environments.
What is the main goal of the project?
The primary goal is to support applied research that helps reduce mercury levels in fish people catch and eat. The project is focused on generating better data and interpretation about how methylmercury forms in water and sediments and how it moves through freshwater food webs, so managers can better predict how actions in the field may affect fish mercury concentrations.
Why is mercury in fish a focus for this work?
In certain freshwater settings, mercury can biomagnify through aquatic food webs, leading to higher concentrations in fish. This is a persistent and high-priority management challenge in environments where people fish for recreation and sport and where fish may also have commercial importance.
What types of environments does the project focus on?
The project targets freshwater settings where methylmercury production in water and sediments can translate into elevated mercury levels in fish, specifically:
- Hydroelectric reservoirs
- Managed wetlands
- Lakes
What is methylmercury, and why is it important here?
Methylmercury is the form of mercury that is especially concerning in aquatic ecosystems because it can be produced in water and sediments and then accumulate and biomagnify through aquatic food webs. This process can lead to elevated mercury concentrations in fish, increasing risk for people who consume those fish.
What is USGS looking for a partner to do?
USGS is seeking a California CESU partner to collect and interpret water and sediment data. These data will be paired with USGS ecological datasets to improve understanding of mercury risk across reservoirs, wetlands, and lakes.
How will the partner’s data be used?
The water and sediment data collected and interpreted by the CESU partner are intended to be integrated with existing USGS ecological datasets. The combined information is meant to strengthen understanding of how methylmercury production and accumulation respond under different environmental and management conditions, ultimately improving the ability to anticipate impacts on fish mercury levels.
Why does the opportunity emphasize “forecasting” mercury outcomes?
The opportunity notes that forecasting mercury outcomes is not straightforward because multiple processes can interact. These interactions can either amplify methylmercury production and accumulation (synergistic effects) or dampen them (antagonistic effects). Better understanding of these interacting processes is considered essential to predicting how management actions may influence mercury levels in fish.
What scientific drivers of mercury methylation are highlighted?
The opportunity specifically points to recognized scientific drivers of mercury methylation, including:
- Dissolved organic matter chemistry
- Microbial processes
It also notes that important knowledge gaps still limit the ability to predict methylmercury responses to real-world management actions.
Why are the study sites described as broadly applicable?
The project focuses on freshwater systems already being studied by USGS so results can be immediately relevant to active management decisions. At the same time, the selected sites are intended to represent similar environments across the nation where there is an urgent need to reduce mercury in fish, making findings more broadly informative beyond the specific locations studied.
How does this opportunity connect to energy generation, recreation, and fishing interests?
The project is built around ongoing USGS collaborations with partners connected to U.S. energy generation, recreation, and commercial fishing interests. The targeted environments (such as hydroelectric reservoirs and fishing waters) align with those stakeholder interests where mercury in fish is a key management concern.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
This is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. The opportunity states that substantial involvement and collaboration with USGS is expected during the project.
What does “substantial involvement” by USGS mean for applicants?
Based on the opportunity description, applicants should expect active collaboration with USGS during the project period. The work is designed to pair partner-collected water and sediment data with USGS ecological datasets, indicating ongoing coordination and joint engagement rather than a hands-off funding relationship.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to organizations that are official participating partners in the California CESU Program.
How many awards does USGS expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates one award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling (maximum funding level) is $270,000.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is G26AS00100.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date is March 30, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is April 30, 2026.
What kinds of data are specifically mentioned in the scope?
The opportunity specifically calls for collecting and interpreting:
- Water data
- Sediment data
These are intended to be paired with USGS ecological datasets to address questions about methylmercury formation and movement.
What management question is the project trying to help answer?
The project aims to improve the ability to predict how management actions in reservoirs, wetlands, and lakes may affect methylmercury production and accumulation, and how those changes may ultimately affect mercury concentrations in fish.
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