Study of Reproductive Readiness and Behavioral Ecology of Wild Hatchery reared Pallid Sturgeon | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Study of Reproductive Readiness and Behavioral Ecology of Wild Hatchery reared Pallid Sturgeon."

Which federal agency offered this funding?

The funding action was issued by the Bureau of Reclamation as a discretionary funding action.

What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity was issued as a cooperative agreement, which indicates the Bureau of Reclamation anticipated substantial involvement in the project compared to a standard grant.

What is the overall purpose of the project?

The purpose was to generate practical, management-relevant information about (1) where pallid sturgeon travel and live at broad scales in the study area and (2) how and when they develop reproductive capability in the wild. These were identified as critical unknowns for a long-lived, endangered river sturgeon species.

Which species is the study focused on?

The study focused on pallid sturgeon, described as a long-lived, endangered river sturgeon species.

What population segment of pallid sturgeon was targeted?

The project centered on a single, clearly defined population segment: the 1997 year class of pallid sturgeon that were hatchery-reared but living in the wild.

Where is the study located?

The study location was the Missouri River system above Fort Peck Reservoir in Montana.

What were the main study objectives?

There were two main objectives: (1) determine macro-habitat use, home range size, and large-scale movement patterns of the 1997 year class in the Missouri River above Fort Peck Reservoir; and (2) determine key reproductive timing milestones for wild, hatchery-reared pallid sturgeon, including age at sexual differentiation, age at first maturity, and spawning periodicity.

What does the study mean by "macro-habitat use"?

In this context, macro-habitat use refers to which large habitat types the fish rely on at a big-picture scale, such as broad river reaches or major channel features.

What does "home range size" mean in this project?

Home range size refers to how much river space an individual fish typically occupies over time within the study area.

What kinds of movement patterns were being studied?

The study sought to understand large-scale movement patterns, including how far and how often fish move through the Missouri River system above Fort Peck Reservoir.

Why is movement and habitat-use information considered management-relevant?

The announcement indicates this type of information is commonly used to guide river operations, habitat restoration priorities, and monitoring strategies, particularly in regulated river systems where flow management and channel structure can influence fish behavior.

Which reproductive timing milestones were included in the study?

The project included age at sexual differentiation, age at first maturity, and spawning periodicity.

What does "age at sexual differentiation" refer to?

It refers to when the fish become male or female internally (i.e., when sex can be determined biologically).

What does "age at first maturity" refer to?

It refers to when the fish are first capable of reproducing.

What does "spawning periodicity" refer to?

Spawning periodicity refers to how frequently mature individuals may spawn after reaching maturity.

Why are these reproductive timelines important for pallid sturgeon management?

The announcement explains that pallid sturgeon can take many years to mature and may not spawn annually. Knowing these timelines helps assess whether stocking and recovery efforts are producing a self-sustaining population and whether conditions in the river segment support reproductive development and potential spawning behavior.

What funding activity category did this opportunity fall under?

It fell under the Natural Resources funding activity category.

What CFDA number was referenced?

The opportunity referenced CFDA 15.517 (Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act).

How much funding was available?

The announcement listed an estimated total funding amount of $300,000.

What were the award ceiling and award floor?

The award ceiling was $300,000 and the award floor was $100,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement specifically stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

Was this an open competitive solicitation?

No. The announcement text stated it was a notice of intent to award and not a request for applications, meaning the government was not soliciting proposals from multiple entities.

Who was the intended recipient of the cooperative agreement?

The notice stated the Bureau of Reclamation intended to make a single-source cooperative agreement award to Montana State University based on unique qualifications.

What does "single-source" or "sole-source" mean in this context?

It means the agency intended to make an award to one specific organization rather than running a competition among multiple applicants, citing unique qualifications such as specialized expertise, capabilities, long-term datasets, established field presence, or similar factors.

If the eligibility category was listed as "unrestricted," could other organizations apply?

Although the eligible applicant category was listed as unrestricted in metadata, the announcement language made clear it was not a request for applications and was instead a notice of intent to award to a specific institution.

What were the key dates for the posting and closeout of the opportunity?

The announcement was posted/created on February 6, 2014. The closing date was February 18, 2014. The archive date was February 20, 2014.

What was required by the closing date?

The closing date language emphasized that required financial assistance forms had to be submitted to the Grants Officer by February 18, 2014.

Who was the Bureau of Reclamation contact for this opportunity?

The listed contact was Leisa Philbin, Grants Officer.

How could the Grants Officer be reached?

Phone: 406-247-7606. Email: lphilbin@usbr.gov.

What management decisions was the study intended to support?

Based on the announcement, the study was intended to support recovery planning and on-the-ground management decisions by improving understanding of movement ecology and reproductive readiness for a key stocked cohort in a specific Missouri River reach.

Why focus on the 1997 year class specifically?

The announcement describes the project as centered on a single, clearly defined population segment (the 1997 year class) to address specific unknowns about broad-scale movements and reproductive development of hatchery-reared fish living in the wild.