Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North and West Alaska CESU | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced a discretionary research funding opportunity under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the North and West Alaska CESU, titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North and West Alaska CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G11AS20056). The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally means the USGS expects to have substantial involvement during the project, such as coordination on scope, deliverables, or technical direction. The program sits within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is tied to CFDA 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection). The opportunity was posted June 27, 2011, and closed July 11, 2011, with an estimated total funding amount of $25,000 and an expectation of one award. No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed.

The core purpose of the project is to quantify regional effects of climate change on glacier runoff flowing to the Gulf of Alaska, focusing on how climate-driven glacier changes alter the timing, volume, and spatial distribution of freshwater discharge. In practical terms, the USGS is seeking research that can describe not only how much meltwater is generated as glaciers lose mass, but also when it arrives seasonally and where it is delivered along the coast and into marine and nearshore systems. Because glacier runoff is a major driver of coastal ocean conditions in Alaska, changes in freshwater input can influence salinity, stratification, sediment and nutrient transport, and ultimately the structure and productivity of connected ecosystems. The emphasis on "regional effects" signals that the work is intended to go beyond a single glacier or watershed case study and instead build understanding and tools that are applicable across the broader Gulf of Alaska coastline.

A major expected outcome is a framework for mapping current conditions and projecting future conditions related to glacier runoff and its ecological consequences. That mapping and projection framework is intended to help link climate trends and glacier volume loss to downstream ecosystem responses, providing a way to visualize where changes are likely to be most pronounced and how those changes may propagate through the system. The opportunity also specifies that the project will be organized around a detailed conceptual system model. This kind of model typically lays out the key components (for example, climate drivers, glacier mass balance, hydrology, coastal circulation, habitat conditions, and biological responses) and the pathways connecting them, including uncertainties and feedbacks. By grounding the project in a conceptual system model, the USGS is signaling that the deliverables should be structured in a way that managers can interpret and apply, rather than being purely academic results without a clear decision context.

Another central objective is to produce decision support tools for resource managers involved in conservation and ecosystem management in the Gulf of Alaska region. The announcement highlights the need to identify areas that are particularly sensitive to future glacier volume loss and increased freshwater discharge, meaning the research should help pinpoint geographic "hotspots" where projected runoff changes may be most disruptive or consequential. Sensitivity in this context could relate to places where ecosystems are strongly shaped by freshwater conditions, where small changes in discharge alter habitat suitability, or where human and ecological values are high and therefore management decisions are especially time-sensitive. Overall, the project is framed as applied science: building an integrated understanding of glacier runoff changes under climate change, translating that understanding into spatial products and projections, and packaging results into tools and a conceptual model that support real-world conservation planning.

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are already participating partners in the North and West Alaska CESU, reflecting the CESU program structure as a network of partner institutions that collaborate with federal agencies on research, technical assistance, and education. The opportunity lists "Others" as eligible applicants, but clarifies that eligibility is limited to those CESU partners. The single point of contact provided for access issues is Faith Graves, Contract Specialist, at 703-648-7356.

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