Notice of Intent: Adventure Outdoor Recreation History and Management | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity about?

This opportunity is a small, targeted cooperative agreement from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS). It focuses on strengthening how Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) understands and manages outdoor recreation by documenting the park's recreation history and organizing related information in a way that supports both park operations and public interpretation.

Which National Park Service unit is associated with the project?

The project is centered on Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) within the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Department of the Interior.

Why is NPS funding this project?

The notice identifies a gap in existing research and accessible records about Grand Teton's recreation history. Relatively few studies have examined the park's recreation history in depth, leaving information scattered and difficult to access and interpret. This gap affects the park's ability to recognize long-term patterns of recreation use and management responses, which can make planning and resource allocation more difficult.

What problem is the project trying to solve for park planning and decision-making?

According to the notice, park planners and decision-makers have fewer tools to understand long-term patterns of river use, recreation demand, and management responses because historical documentation is not consolidated. The project is intended to provide baseline historical and spatial documentation that can support more informed decisions, especially in the context of limited staffing and funding.

What specific areas of Grand Teton does the documentation focus on?

The project focuses on three connected areas: (1) the Scenic Snake River Corridor, (2) the Teton Mountain Range (including high-elevation terrain and peaks), and (3) the broader evolution of outdoor recreation management across the park.

What is the stated concern about high-elevation visitor use?

The notice flags a growing management challenge in high-elevation areas: visitor use has increased while systematic data collection has declined over time. This creates uncertainty about trends and impacts and strengthens the need for better baseline documentation.

Who is the named academic partner for the project?

Idaho State University (ISU) is named as the collaborating academic partner. The notice describes ISU working directly with NPS staff to produce documentation useful for both park operations and public interpretation.

How will NPS be involved in the work?

This is a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial involvement and collaboration with NPS rather than a hands-off grant. The notice emphasizes direct work with NPS staff to develop usable documentation.

What kinds of outputs or results are intended?

Based on the notice, the intent is to interpret and compile historical information and to assemble and interpret records and data so they are more accessible and useful. The results are meant to serve internal management needs (baseline information for recreation planning and managing pressures) and public-facing interpretive and educational needs (helping people understand how recreation and its management have developed over time).

Who within Grand Teton National Park is expected to use the project results?

The notice positions the project as supporting multiple GRTE work units involved in visitor use and resource protection. It specifically mentions the Visitor Resource Protection Division, Science and Resource Management, Interpretation, and Facility Management.

How does the project support public education and interpretation?

The notice states that visitors, educators, and the general public currently lack an accessible way to view spatial and historical information about recreation use and management in Grand Teton. By assembling and interpreting records and data, the project aims to improve public access to that information and support educational and interpretive needs.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category listed in the notice is Natural Resources.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The notice lists CFDA 15.945.

How many awards does NPS expect to make?

The expected award count is one.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling listed in the notice is $40,303.

What type of funding mechanism is used?

The notice describes this as a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, along with other entities as described in the opportunity's additional eligibility language.

When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on July 18, 2016. The original closing date was July 22, 2016, reflecting a short response window.

Is this opportunity described as broad or targeted?

The notice describes it as a small, targeted cooperative agreement, and it names Idaho State University (ISU) as the collaborating academic partner working directly with NPS staff.

What is meant by "recreation history" in this notice?

In this notice, recreation history refers to documenting and interpreting historical information about recreation access and use, including patterns of use and how outdoor recreation has been managed over time, with specific attention to the Snake River corridor, the Teton Mountain Range (including high-elevation terrain and peaks), and park-wide recreation management evolution.

How does this project relate to current recreation pressures in the park?

The notice ties the need for the project to "ever-growing recreational activities" bringing people to the park. It suggests that improved baseline historical and spatial documentation can help guide present and future recreation management choices.