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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G14AS00089). It is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fort Collins Science Center funding call for research using tree rings from Populus species (cottonwood and poplar) to reconstruct past climate and river flow patterns.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through the Fort Collins Science Center.

What is the main purpose of the project being funded?

The project aims to use Populus (cottonwood/poplar) ring widths to extend records of climate and hydrology back several centuries, improving the ability to understand long-term river flow change, separate natural variability from human-driven change, and support adaptation planning for water supplies and river ecosystems.

What research approach is emphasized in the announcement?

The announcement centers on dendrochronology, specifically using Populus ring-width patterns as proxies for climate and hydrology to reconstruct streamflow and related climate conditions.

Why is USGS interested in reconstructing past river flows and climate?

USGS highlights that modern stream gage records are generally limited to about the last 100 years, which is often too short to clearly distinguish human-driven climate change signals from natural climate variability and the effects of water management (for example, dams, diversions, and reservoir operations). Longer reconstructions provide historical context needed to interpret recent trends and plan for future conditions.

What practical management problem is this work intended to address?

The work is framed around shifting river flows in interior western North America as temperatures warm, especially on snowmelt-driven rivers. The announcement notes patterns such as higher winter flows, earlier spring snowmelt peaks, reduced annual peak flows, and lower summer low flows, which can affect water supply reliability for communities and agriculture, particularly in already dry regions.

How does changing river flow affect ecosystems on federal lands?

The announcement emphasizes that river flow timing and magnitude underpin river ecosystem health. When the seasonal rhythm of flow changes, habitat availability can shift, native species can be stressed, and invasive species may gain advantages under the new conditions.

Why are existing stream gage records not enough for this type of analysis?

According to the announcement, gage records are often limited to roughly the past century. That time span may not be sufficient to separate long-term climate change from natural variability or to disentangle climate signals from the effects of water management. USGS also notes that natural fluctuations over the last century have sometimes produced flow shifts comparable in size to those caused by major reservoirs.

What tree species are specifically referenced for the tree-ring work?

The opportunity specifically references Populus species, including cottonwood and poplar.

What prior work does USGS cite as motivation for this project?

USGS points to ongoing work indicating that cottonwood/poplar ring-width patterns can be used to reconstruct streamflow along perennial meandering rivers of the Great Plains, where traditional tree-ring reconstructions can be difficult because older trees are scarce and forests are limited.

What is USGS trying to test or expand in this funding call?

The purpose is to test whether the Great Plains approach using Populus-based ring-width reconstructions can be expanded to other ecosystems. The announcement references three distinct expansion directions, although the brief synopsis does not list those three directions in detail.

Does the opportunity include work outside the United States?

Yes. The synopsis explicitly mentions extending the work beyond the U.S. to include western China, suggesting a comparative or broader geographic test across different climatic and hydrologic settings.

What type of award is this?

This is a discretionary science and technology research and development award made through a cooperative agreement.

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

In this context, it means USGS expects substantial involvement or collaboration during the project rather than a hands-off grant arrangement.

How many awards did USGS anticipate making?

USGS anticipated making one award.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount listed is $34,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The funding listing indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Is there an award minimum or maximum (floor or ceiling)?

The posting lists the award floor and ceiling as 0. That typically indicates the applicant should rely on the full announcement (including narrative and budget instructions) for any practical limits or expectations.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are official partners in the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. An interested applicant must already be part of the Rocky Mountain CESU to apply under this announcement.

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

CESUs are structured partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with universities and other research entities to deliver research, technical assistance, and education aligned with management needs. Under this opportunity, only Rocky Mountain CESU partner organizations are eligible.

Where do applicants find the full announcement and application package?

The announcement references Grants.gov as the primary source for the complete application package and requirements.

What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The posting shows it was originally posted on June 11, 2014, created on June 16, 2014, and had an original closing date of June 20, 2014. It was later extended to a current closing date of July 11, 2014, and the opportunity was archived on September 11, 2014.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The program is associated with CFDA 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection).

Who is the contact person listed for questions or access issues?

The contact listed is Faith Graves, reachable at 703-648-7356 or fgraves@usgs.gov.

What is the broader management value USGS highlights for this research?

USGS emphasizes that combining flow monitoring with longer historical context helps land managers and water users better understand climate change impacts, interpret recent hydrologic trends, attribute causes, and plan adaptation strategies for both water supply reliability and river ecosystem health on federal lands.