Life History Diversity of Delta Smelt from the Otolith Analyses of the Spring Kodiak Trawl (SKT) (2005 2006 and 2010 2011 year classes) | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

This grant opportunity, titled "Life History Diversity of Delta Smelt from the Otolith Analyses of the Spring Kodiak Trawl (SKT) (2005 2006 and 2010 2011 year classes)," is a Bureau of Reclamation (Mid-Pacific Region) discretionary research award intended to support a focused scientific study on the endangered Delta Smelt in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The funding is issued under CFDA 15.512, tied to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Public Law 102-575), specifically authorities in Sections 3406(b)(1) and 3407(e). The stated intent is to fund work at the University of California, Davis, with an estimated agreement value of about $227,499.31 and Reclamation providing the full amount, meaning there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

The central purpose of the project is to improve understanding of Delta Smelt ecology in ways that help managers better anticipate how management actions affect the species and its habitat. Delta Smelt are a key indicator species in the Delta, and their distribution and survival are closely linked to salinity patterns, freshwater outflow, water operations, and habitat quality. By using otolith analysis, the project focuses on reconstructing the life history of individual fish. Otoliths are ear stones in fish that grow in layers and record chemical signatures and growth increments over time, making them useful for determining age, growth rates, and movement between different water types (such as freshwater and low-salinity habitats). In this case, the study targets fish associated with the Spring Kodiak Trawl Survey and examines specific year classes from 2005 2006 and 2010 2011, allowing comparisons across years that may have differed in hydrology and environmental conditions.

The project is organized around three main scientific objectives. First, it aims to determine when Delta Smelt move into the low salinity zone and to estimate the proportion of fish that remain freshwater residents but are still captured in the Spring Kodiak Trawl Survey. This objective addresses an important uncertainty in Delta Smelt ecology: whether the population relies on a single dominant migratory pattern or includes multiple strategies, such as individuals that stay upstream in freshwater versus those that shift into brackish habitat. Understanding the timing and prevalence of these strategies can affect how scientists interpret survey results and how managers evaluate which habitats are most critical at different life stages.

Second, the study seeks to quantify individual growth histories in relation to life history movements. Because otoliths contain daily or seasonal growth information, they can be used to infer periods of faster or slower growth, which can be linked to changes in habitat, food availability, temperature, and stress. Pairing movement patterns with growth histories helps clarify whether certain life history strategies produce better growth outcomes, which can influence survival and reproductive potential. This kind of information is often used to refine population models and to evaluate whether management actions that change flows or salinity are likely to improve or degrade conditions for Delta Smelt.

Third, the project examines how water quality and habitat conditions influence life history variability. This includes assessing environmental factors that may be associated with different movement and growth patterns, such as salinity, temperature, turbidity, and other indicators of habitat suitability in the Delta and adjacent estuarine areas. By connecting otolith-derived histories to environmental conditions, the research is intended to clarify what drives variability in Delta Smelt behavior and performance across different years and habitats. The broader goal is to strengthen the ability to predict impacts from water and habitat management, especially given the species threatened status and the complexity of the Delta system.

Administratively, this opportunity is presented as a Notice of Intent to Award rather than a competitive solicitation. It explicitly states that the government may choose not to compete the financial assistance under Departmental Manual 505 DM 2, paragraph 2.14(B)(2) and (4), and that the decision not to compete is at the governments discretion. In practical terms, the announcement is not asking the public to submit proposals; instead, it signals an intended award (expected awards: 1) associated with the stated project and recipient. The funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is science and technology and other research and development, and the posted and closing timeline reflects a short publication window (posted May 14, 2013; closing May 28, 2013; archived May 29, 2013). While the eligibility list is broad in the standard listing (including governments, nonprofits, higher education institutions, tribes, and certain for-profit entities), the description indicates the work is tied to UC Davis for this intended award.

For questions, the point of contact listed is Megan Bryant, Grants Management Specialist, reachable by email at mbryant@usbr.gov, including assistance for accessing the full announcement. The opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number R13AS20022, and the ceiling is approximately $227,500 with no stated minimum award floor.

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