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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What agency is offering this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What program is this opportunity released under?

The notice was released under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically for partners in the South Florida/Caribbean CESU.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners in the South Florida/Caribbean CESU Program.

Is this a standard grant or something else?

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement. That means the project is expected to involve substantial collaboration with USGS, rather than being managed as a hands-off grant.

How many awards did USGS expect to make?

USGS anticipated making one award.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount listed in the notice is $25,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

What is the main purpose of this project?

The overall intent is to fund a single research effort that contributes directly to restoration planning and scenario evaluation for the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, with an emphasis on improving how historical (pre-alteration) conditions are understood and used in restoration target-setting.

What ecosystem or region is this work focused on?

The work is focused on the Greater Everglades Ecosystem.

What does the opportunity mean by "historical (pre-alteration) conditions"?

It refers to hydrologic conditions that existed before major human alterations to Everglades water management and landscape connectivity. The project is intended to help reconstruct these baseline conditions so they can be used as reference conditions for restoration targets and performance measures.

What is the scientific focus of the opportunity?

The scientific focus is integrating paleoecologic core analyses into hydrologic linear regression models.

What are paleoecologic core analyses in the context of this notice?

In practical terms, this refers to analyzing sediment cores and related paleoecological indicators to produce empirical, observation-based datasets.

How will the sediment core data be used?

The datasets generated from sediment cores and related indicators are intended to be used to build linear regression relationships that connect estuarine salinity patterns to wetland hydrology across the Greater Everglades system.

Why does the notice emphasize linking estuarine salinity to wetland hydrology?

By connecting salinity conditions in estuaries to upstream or adjacent wetland hydrologic behavior, the project aims to strengthen the ability of planners and scientists to evaluate restoration scenarios and understand system responses.

What kinds of models are referenced?

The notice specifically references hydrologic linear regression models and linear regression relationships linking estuarine salinity patterns with wetland hydrology.

What is a key deliverable implied by the description?

A central implied deliverable is a reconstruction of hydrologic conditions that existed before major human alterations (pre-alteration conditions), to support restoration target-setting and performance measures.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on July 2, 2013.

What were the closing dates for submission?

The original closing date and the final closing date were both July 12, 2013.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The notice indicates it was archived on September 2, 2013.

What is the CFDA number associated with this funding?

The funding falls under CFDA 15.808, titled U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

How is this opportunity categorized?

It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Where can applicants find the general opportunity information?

The general opportunity information is available through Grants.gov.

Who is the contact person for access issues or additional help?

The listed contact is Faith Graves. Phone: 703-648-7356. Email: fgraves@usgs.gov.

Does the notice describe the project as multiple separate efforts or a single effort?

It is described as funding a single research effort.

What is the intended use of the reconstructed baseline conditions?

The reconstructed baseline (pre-alteration) conditions are described as essential for informing restoration targets and performance measures, so modern restoration efforts can be measured against scientifically grounded reference conditions.