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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is titled the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU grant opportunity. The Funding Opportunity Number is G15AS00058.

Which federal agency offered this opportunity?

The opportunity was a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding announcement.

What type of award was planned?

Support was to be provided through a cooperative agreement for a focused research project. A cooperative agreement typically involves active participation by USGS in carrying out the project, rather than a purely hands-off relationship.

How is a cooperative agreement different from a standard grant in this context?

Based on the announcement description, a cooperative agreement generally implies USGS would be actively involved in the project, such as collaborating on study design, coordinating analysis, supporting data collection approaches, or helping shape delivery of results.

What was the main purpose of the project?

The core purpose was to evaluate Grass Carp spawning potential in the Sandusky River, a key tributary connected to Lake Erie, with relevance to broader Great Lakes invasion risk.

Why was the Sandusky River specifically important for this work?

The Sandusky River is connected to Lake Erie, and the project aimed to assess spawning suitability there as part of understanding and reducing the risk of Grass Carp becoming established in the Great Lakes region.

What species was the research focused on?

The research focus was invasive Grass Carp in the Great Lakes region.

How does the announcement describe Grass Carp feeding behavior?

Grass Carp are described as a non-native, obligate herbivore that primarily consumes rooted and attached aquatic vegetation. The announcement also notes they can feed on algae, some terrestrial plant material, and, on occasion, invertebrates.

Why are Grass Carp a management concern in the Great Lakes region?

The announcement highlights that when Grass Carp occur at high abundances, they can remove large portions of aquatic vegetation. Because they selectively prefer certain plant species over others, their feeding can reshape plant community composition, shift species distributions, and change relative abundances across habitats.

What ecological impacts could occur if Grass Carp become established?

According to the announcement, changes in aquatic vegetation can cascade into impacts on water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and overall ecosystem function. The potential for ecological damage is considered high if Grass Carp become established and begin producing large, self-sustaining populations.

Why did the announcement emphasize research on spawning potential and reproduction risk?

The announcement framed early research on spawning suitability and reproduction risk as particularly important for prevention and control efforts, given the high potential for ecological damage if Grass Carp establish self-sustaining populations.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to organizations that were already participating partners in the Great Lakes Northern Forests Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

What is the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Program?

CESUs are structured partnerships designed to link federal agencies with universities, tribes, and other research or technical organizations to provide applied research, technical assistance, and education in support of public resource management.

How many awards did the program expect to make?

The announcement anticipated making one award.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $100,000.

What was the planned project period?

The planned project period was two years.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning the selected partner would not be required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of receiving the award.

What was the activity category for this opportunity?

The opportunity fell under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection).

When was the opportunity posted?

The announcement was posted on March 23, 2015.

What were the application closing dates?

The original and final closing date listed was April 7, 2015.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was later archived on June 23, 2015.

Where could applicants find the full announcement?

At the time, the opportunity was available through Grants.gov.

Who was the contact person for help accessing the announcement?

USGS listed Faith Graves as the contact for access assistance.

What contact details were provided for the USGS point of contact?

Faith Graves could be reached by phone at 703-648-7356 or by email at fgraves@usgs.gov.

What were the listed award ceiling and award floor?

The listed award ceiling and floor were both shown as 0.

What does it mean that the award ceiling and floor were listed as 0?

The announcement indicates both were shown as 0, which commonly signals that formal per-award bounds were not set in the posting beyond the provided total estimate, and that the final budget and scope would be negotiated for the selected project.

Was this opportunity still open when it was archived?

No. The final closing date was April 7, 2015, and the opportunity was archived later on June 23, 2015.