Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 10HQPA0087.

Which federal agency issued this opportunity?

This opportunity was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What program is this opportunity associated with?

It was issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the Colorado Plateau CESU.

What type of award is being offered?

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

It means the work is expected to involve substantial federal involvement or collaboration, rather than operating like a hands-off grant.

What is the program area classification for this opportunity?

The program area is classified under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What CFDA number is tied to this opportunity?

This opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.808 (USGS Research and Data Collection).

How much funding was expected to be available?

USGS estimated a total funding amount of $99,000.

How many awards did USGS anticipate making?

USGS anticipated making a single award.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching was required.

When was the funding announcement posted?

The funding announcement was posted on June 28, 2010.

What was the application deadline?

The opportunity closed on July 8, 2010.

Was this opportunity later archived?

Yes. The opportunity was archived on August 7, 2010.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to organizations that are official partners in the Colorado Plateau CESU network.

Could the general public or any university apply?

No. The restriction meant only members of the Colorado Plateau CESU consortium could apply, not the general public or any university outside that network.

What are CESUs in general terms?

CESUs are formal partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with universities, tribes, and other research institutions to deliver applied research, technical assistance, and education that support natural and cultural resource management.

What is the title of the proposed research project?

The project is titled "Investigating Potential Climate Change Impacts on the Upper Colorado River Fish Fauna: An Aquatic Ecology Investigation to Support the Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative."

What is the overall purpose of the project?

The purpose is to understand how climate change, especially changes in stream and river temperature, may affect fish communities across the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) and to produce decision-ready information for managers.

Which geographic area is the focus of the research?

The focus is the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB).

What biological resources are being studied?

The project emphasizes ichthyofauna (fish assemblages), including both native and nonnative fish species.

What primary environmental factor is emphasized in the climate change analysis?

The emphasis is on stream and river temperature (thermal regimes) as a key pathway by which climate change may affect fish occurrence and distribution.

What are the key research objectives described in the announcement?

Key objectives include: assessing current conditions and forecasting likely climate change impacts on UCRB fish communities; analyzing historic and contemporary patterns of native and nonnative fish occurrence in relation to temperature conditions in streams; and modeling thermal resources in the main rivers to understand thermal preferences and requirements that shape habitat suitability.

What kinds of outputs or deliverables are implied by the objectives?

The announcement implies development of models or maps describing present-day and future fish distributions across the basin under multiple climate change scenarios, rather than a single forecast.

Why does the project consider multiple climate change scenarios?

Using multiple scenarios allows managers to see how projected outcomes can vary depending on different assumptions and trajectories.

What does the project mean by linking fish occurrence and distribution to thermal regimes?

It means analyzing where fish are found now (and historically) in relation to temperature conditions, and then using those relationships to project how distributions may shift as thermal conditions change.

What is the significance of identifying overlap between native and nonnative fishes?

Overlap zones can be critical for conservation planning because warming temperatures and altered flow regimes may expand habitat for nonnative species, increase competition or predation pressure, and reduce thermal refuges for native species.

How are the overlap areas expected to be used by managers?

The project aims to help agencies prioritize monitoring, restoration, nonnative control, and protection of cold-water refugia or other critical habitats by pinpointing where overlap is most likely now and in the future.

How is this research intended to support resource management?

The expected management value is to translate climate- and temperature-driven ecological change into actionable guidance for land and water managers across the Upper Colorado River Basin.

Who was the listed point of contact for administrative questions or access issues?

The listed contact was Faith Graves, Contract Specialist.

What is the phone number for the listed point of contact?

The phone number provided was 703-648-7356.