Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS R5 ES 11 010
Apply for FWS R5 ES 11 010
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Investigating of Water Quality Threats" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650 Research Grants (Generic).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 28, 2011 and posted on Jun 28, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $99,400.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $99,400.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, titled "Investigating of Water Quality Threats," is a Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Notice of Intent to award a single grant to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). There is no full competitive announcement attached, which signals this is a planned, directed award rather than an open solicitation. The project focuses on identifying and understanding water quality threats in the Upper Tennessee River system, with particular attention to the Clinch River (CR) and the North Fork Holston River (NFHR) in Virginia and Tennessee. These rivers are especially important because they support a high number of imperiled freshwater mussels, including 18 federally listed species and 4 candidate species.
The core purpose of the work is to determine how contaminants and specific water chemistry conditions are affecting adult mussel health and reproduction. The approach relies on detailed, quantitative histology, meaning the study will examine and measure signs of stress or damage in key mussel organs. The tissues targeted include the digestive gland, gills, kidneys, and gonads, which together can reveal impacts on basic survival functions (like feeding and respiration) as well as reproductive capacity. FWS states that the investigation is assigned to named Virginia Tech personnel because of their specialized expertise in mussel histology and contaminant assessment, and because they have decades of site-specific knowledge of the Clinch and North Fork Holston mussel communities.
The research plan has two main components. First, the team will use caged adult rainbow mussels (Villosa iris) placed at multiple Clinch River sites that fall into two categories: areas where mussel populations appear to be increasing and areas where they appear to be decreasing. After holding mussels at these sites, the project will evaluate and statistically compare organ tissue condition between the two zones. A key feature of this component is that the histological results will be statistically correlated with water quality measurements already being collected through other ongoing Clinch River investigations, helping connect biological effects to real-world water chemistry patterns at the same locations.
The second component moves from field observation to controlled exposure studies. Adult Villosa iris will be exposed to mixtures of common ions (sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride) at different high and low concentration combinations to better understand whether elevated ionic strength or specific ion mixtures are harming mussels. In addition, the project will conduct unionized ammonia exposures using the highest levels detected at investigated Clinch River sites and at seepage points associated with the Saltville chemical holding ponds in the North Fork Holston River. After three months of exposure, tissues from exposed mussels and control mussels will be examined and compared statistically, with the intent of identifying tissue-level indicators of harm at environmentally relevant concentrations.
FWS lays out five specific objectives: (1) assess the health of caged adult rainbow mussels at four sites in each of the two Clinch River zones (increase vs. decrease) using histological evaluation of gill, digestive gland, kidney, and gonad tissues; (2) correlate the quantitative tissue health results with site-specific water quality data from ongoing work; (3) rank the surveyed Clinch River sites based on mussel health to support management priority-setting; (4) assess mussel health under controlled exposures to high and low ion mixture combinations (Na, K, Ca2, Cl) using the same tissue endpoints; and (5) assess mussel health under controlled exposures to unionized ammonia at concentrations measured in the Clinch and North Fork Holston rivers, again using the same organ tissue endpoints.
From a management perspective, the project is designed to turn tissue-level health measurements into practical decision support. By ranking sites based on the condition of a non-listed mussel species, managers can infer broader site quality and potential risks to threatened and endangered mussels occurring in the same habitats. FWS emphasizes that the results could help guide conservation actions, evaluate whether management strategies are working, and function as an early warning system for impending declines before population losses become obvious. The agency also ties the work to Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC), framing the results as outcome-based monitoring and baseline data that can be used for future assessments in these rivers and potentially applied to other eastern U.S. river systems.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant under CFDA 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic), with no cost sharing or match required. The expected number of awards is one, with total funding of $99,400 (the award floor and ceiling are both $99,400). The opportunity was posted June 28, 2011, and closed June 30, 2011, with an archive date of July 1, 2011. Eligibility is listed as state governments, consistent with the planned award structure involving a public university partner. The listed grants officer contact is Christal Cutler, phone 413-253-8233, primarily for electronic access issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Investigating of Water Quality Threats
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The grant opportunity is titled "Investigating of Water Quality Threats".
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
Is this an open, competitive grant solicitation?
No. This is a Notice of Intent to award a single grant to a specific recipient (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia Tech). There is no full competitive announcement attached, which indicates this is a planned, directed award rather than an open competition.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
How many awards does FWS expect to make?
FWS expects to make one award.
What is the total funding amount for this grant?
The total funding amount is $99,400.
What are the award floor and award ceiling?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling are $99,400, consistent with a single planned award at a fixed amount.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing or match is required.
What type of grant is this?
This is described as a discretionary grant under CFDA 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic).
What is the primary purpose of the project?
The core purpose is to determine how contaminants and specific water chemistry conditions affect adult freshwater mussel health and reproduction in the Upper Tennessee River system, with emphasis on the Clinch River and the North Fork Holston River.
Which river systems and locations are the focus of the work?
The project focuses on the Upper Tennessee River system, specifically the Clinch River (CR) and the North Fork Holston River (NFHR) in Virginia and Tennessee.
Why are the Clinch River and North Fork Holston River important in this context?
These rivers are highlighted because they support a high number of imperiled freshwater mussels, including 18 federally listed species and 4 candidate species.
What species will be used for the study work described?
The work uses adult rainbow mussels (Villosa iris), including in caging studies and controlled exposure studies.
Does the project focus on adult mussels, juvenile mussels, or both?
Based on the described methods and objectives, the project focuses on adult rainbow mussels (Villosa iris).
What is the main biological method being used to evaluate mussel health?
The project relies on detailed, quantitative histology, meaning tissues are examined and measured for signs of stress or damage to assess health and reproductive condition.
Which mussel organs/tissues will be examined?
The targeted tissues are the digestive gland, gills, kidneys, and gonads.
What is the value of examining those specific tissues?
Those tissues can indicate impacts on key functions such as feeding and digestion (digestive gland), respiration (gills), filtration and excretion (kidneys), and reproductive capacity (gonads).
Why is the investigation assigned to named Virginia Tech personnel?
FWS states it is assigned to named Virginia Tech personnel due to their specialized expertise in mussel histology and contaminant assessment and their decades of site-specific knowledge of the Clinch and North Fork Holston River mussel communities.
What are the two main components of the research plan?
The plan has two components: (1) field-based caging studies using adult rainbow mussels placed at multiple Clinch River sites, and (2) controlled exposure studies where adult mussels are exposed to ion mixtures and unionized ammonia under controlled conditions.
How will the field (caging) study be set up in the Clinch River?
Adult rainbow mussels will be caged at multiple Clinch River sites that fall into two categories: areas where mussel populations appear to be increasing and areas where they appear to be decreasing.
How many Clinch River sites are included in the caging comparison?
The objectives specify four sites in the mussel population increase zone and four sites in the decrease zone (eight sites total in that component).
How will differences between the Clinch River zones be evaluated?
After mussels are held at the sites, the project will evaluate and statistically compare organ tissue condition between mussels from increase-zone sites versus decrease-zone sites.
Will the project use existing water quality data?
Yes. A key feature is that histological results will be statistically correlated with site-specific water quality measurements already being collected through other ongoing Clinch River investigations.
What is the purpose of correlating tissue condition with water quality data?
The intent is to help connect observed biological effects (tissue-level indicators of stress or damage) to real-world water chemistry patterns measured at the same locations.
What types of controlled exposures are included in the second component?
The controlled exposure studies include: (1) exposures to mixtures of common ions at different high/low concentration combinations, and (2) exposures to unionized ammonia using the highest levels detected at certain investigated sites.
Which ions are specifically included in the ion mixture exposures?
The ion mixtures include sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca2), and chloride (Cl).
What is the goal of testing different ion mixtures?
The goal is to better understand whether elevated ionic strength or specific ion mixtures are harming mussels, using tissue-level endpoints for evaluation.
How will unionized ammonia concentrations be selected for the exposure tests?
The project will conduct unionized ammonia exposures using the highest levels detected at investigated Clinch River sites and at seepage points associated with the Saltville chemical holding ponds in the North Fork Holston River.
How long will the controlled exposures last?
The exposure duration described is three months, after which tissues from exposed mussels and control mussels will be examined.
Will there be a control group in the exposure studies?
Yes. The plan specifies comparing tissues from exposed mussels to control mussels statistically.
What are the five stated project objectives?
- Assess health of caged adult rainbow mussels at four sites in each of two Clinch River zones (increase vs. decrease) using histology of gill, digestive gland, kidney, and gonad tissues.
- Correlate quantitative tissue health results with site-specific water quality data from ongoing work.
- Rank surveyed Clinch River sites based on mussel health to support management priority-setting.
- Assess mussel health under controlled exposures to high and low ion mixture combinations (Na, K, Ca2, Cl) using the same tissue endpoints.
- Assess mussel health under controlled exposures to unionized ammonia at concentrations measured in the Clinch and North Fork Holston rivers using the same tissue endpoints.
What management outcomes are expected from the project?
The project is designed to translate tissue-level health measurements into practical decision support by helping managers prioritize sites, evaluate whether management strategies are working, and provide an early warning system for potential mussel declines before population losses become obvious.
How does ranking sites based on a non-listed mussel species help conservation of listed species?
FWS indicates that by ranking sites based on the condition of a non-listed mussel species (rainbow mussel), managers can infer broader site quality and potential risks to threatened and endangered mussels that occur in the same habitats.
How does this work connect to Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC)?
FWS ties the work to Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC) by framing it as outcome-based monitoring and baseline data generation that can support future assessments in these rivers and potentially be applied to other eastern U.S. river systems.
What is the posted date and closing date for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted June 28, 2011 and closed June 30, 2011.
What is the archive date?
The archive date listed is July 1, 2011.
What eligibility category is listed for this opportunity?
Eligibility is listed as state governments, consistent with the planned award structure involving a public university partner.
Who is the listed grants officer contact and what is their role?
The listed grants officer contact is Christal Cutler at 413-253-8233. The contact is noted as being primarily for electronic access issues.
Is there a full competitive announcement attached to this Notice of Intent?
No. The information provided states there is no full competitive announcement attached.
What contaminants or water chemistry stressors are explicitly mentioned as priorities for investigation?
The opportunity explicitly mentions investigation of ion mixtures (Na, K, Ca2, Cl) and unionized ammonia, and more generally references contaminants and specific water chemistry conditions affecting mussel health and reproduction.
How are Clinch River water quality measurements incorporated into the study design?
Water quality measurements from other ongoing Clinch River investigations are used so that histological outcomes from caged mussels can be statistically correlated with water chemistry patterns at the same sites, strengthening interpretation of potential cause-and-effect relationships.
What kind of results are expected from the histology work?
Based on the description, expected results include quantitative tissue-level indicators of stress or damage in key organs, statistical comparisons across sites and treatments, and rankings of sites based on measured mussel health.
Are the study exposures intended to reflect real environmental conditions?
Yes. The unionized ammonia exposures are described as using concentrations measured in the Clinch and North Fork Holston rivers (including the highest detected levels at certain locations), with the intent of identifying tissue-level indicators of harm at environmentally relevant concentrations.
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