Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title and funding opportunity number for this USGS grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" and the Funding Opportunity Number is G13AS00040.

Which USGS office announced this funding opportunity?

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its Great Lakes Science Center, announced the opportunity.

What type of funding instrument is being used?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means USGS expects substantial involvement in the funded work compared with a standard grant.

What is the primary project focus?

The focus is applied research and data collection to assess how harmful algal blooms (HABs) and habitat restoration efforts are affecting fisheries in Lakes Erie and Huron.

What kinds of questions is the funded work intended to answer?

The work is intended to generate management-relevant science that improves understanding of: how fish use key habitats across these Great Lakes systems; how those habitats have been degraded over time; and how restoration actions may be influencing fish spawning and nursery success.

Which geographic areas are emphasized in the research?

The opportunity places particular emphasis on the Huron-Erie Corridor and the Saginaw Bay watershed, while also aiming to inform work in other degraded Great Lakes-connected systems.

Which Great Lakes are specifically mentioned?

Lakes Erie and Huron are specifically identified as the core systems for the fisheries and habitat work described in the announcement.

How does harmful algal blooms (HABs) fit into the purpose of this project?

HABs are one of the major management issues highlighted in the announcement. The funded work is intended to help assess how HABs are affecting fisheries, alongside evaluating the effectiveness of habitat restoration actions.

What is meant by “management-relevant” or “practical” science in this opportunity?

The announcement emphasizes generating practical, management-relevant science intended to support strategies to repair, rehabilitate, and restore functional fish habitat and to strengthen evidence-based decisions about habitat investments.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category listed is "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."

What CFDA program is associated with this funding?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.808, listed as U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

How many awards did USGS expect to make?

USGS expected to make a single award.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $198,000.

Was there an award ceiling or floor?

No stated award ceiling or award floor was listed in the announcement.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement explicitly notes that no cost sharing or matching is required.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to partners of the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Program. Although the eligible applicants field is labeled as "Others," the controlling requirement described is membership in that specific CESU network.

What is a CESU and why does it matter for eligibility?

CESUs (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units) are established partnerships that connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other research and education organizations to deliver research, technical assistance, and education supporting resource management. For this opportunity, being a partner in the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU network is the key eligibility requirement.

Can an organization apply if it is not already part of the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU?

Based on the announcement summary, organizations not already participating in that CESU would generally not be eligible unless they are confirmed partners under the network rules described in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted and created on April 30, 2013. The original and current closing date was May 10, 2013.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was later archived on July 30, 2013, indicating it is no longer open.

Where could applicants find the full announcement materials?

The listing referenced Grants.gov for the original full announcement materials.

Who was listed as a contact for help accessing the full announcement?

The contact listed was Faith Graves at 703-648-7356 and fgraves@usgs.gov.

What outcomes or benefits was this project intended to support?

The announcement indicates the resulting information would support strategies to repair, rehabilitate, and restore functional fish habitat, and help inform where and how to invest in habitat repairs to sustain or improve fish populations in Lakes Erie and Huron.

How does habitat restoration connect to fish spawning and nursery areas in this opportunity?

The opportunity specifically highlights evaluating how restoration actions may be influencing fish spawning and nursery success, as part of understanding habitat use, degradation, and recovery.

What broader management issues does this opportunity sit at the intersection of?

It is positioned at the intersection of two major issues: the ecological and fisheries impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs), and the effectiveness of habitat restoration actions intended to rebuild spawning and nursery habitats.