Opportunity Information: Apply for R12SS40045
Apply for R12SS40045
- The Bureau of Reclamation Upper Colorado Region in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Use and Importance of Tributaries to Sustain Native Fish Communities in the San Juan River" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.517 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 7, 2012 and posted on Sep 7, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 20, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $118,296.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $118,296.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments.
- State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and institutions, public and private institutions and organizations, Federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments, individuals, small businesses, for profit organizations, and Native American Organizations.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Use and Importance of Tributaries to Sustain Native Fish Communities in the San Juan River" is a Bureau of Reclamation (Upper Colorado Region) cooperative agreement aimed at improving how managers understand and protect native fish in the San Juan River system. The central idea is that tributaries may play an outsized role in keeping native fish populations viable, either by providing better habitat conditions than the mainstem at certain times of year, serving as spawning or nursery areas, or functioning as seasonal refuges when the main river becomes too warm, turbid, or otherwise stressful. At the same time, tributaries can also act as pathways or source areas for nonnative fish that compete with, prey on, or otherwise harm native species, so the work is designed to capture both the benefits and risks that tributaries present.
The proposed project focuses on seasonal surveys of major San Juan River tributaries, with sampling reaches spread along longitudinal gradients in three main tributaries. This spatial design is meant to detect how fish communities and habitat conditions change from lower tributary areas near the mainstem connection up to higher reaches, and to evaluate how much exchange occurs between tributary habitats and the main river. The work is organized around four research objectives. First, the project will document fish community composition in tributaries and track how those communities vary over space and time, which helps identify where native species are persisting, where nonnatives are concentrated, and whether community structure shifts seasonally or between years. Second, the project will describe key habitat conditions in each tributary, including flow statistics, temperature, turbidity, overhead cover, and channel dimensions such as width and depth. These measurements are intended to connect biological patterns to physical drivers, for example whether natives are associated with cooler temperatures, particular flow regimes, or specific habitat complexity that may differ from nonnative preferences. Third, the project will assess whether fish movements into, out of, and within tributaries are linked to environmental conditions (like temperature and flow) and to species reproductive ecology, which addresses questions such as whether fish move into tributaries during spawning periods, during high-flow events, or when mainstem conditions deteriorate. Fourth, the project will identify potential barriers to fish movement within tributaries, which could include natural features or human-made structures that prevent fish from reaching critical habitats, fragment populations, or alter access to seasonal refuges.
Field methods combine standard fish sampling and habitat monitoring with individual fish tagging to directly measure movement. Fish population densities will be estimated using backpack electrofishing gear and seines, which are commonly used for wadeable tributary environments and allow consistent seasonal comparisons among sites. Habitat measurements will be collected at each sampling reach to test which habitat features are favored by native versus nonnative fishes. A major component of the study is marking fish 150 mm and larger with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. PIT tags allow researchers to identify individual fish over time and document where and when they move, providing stronger evidence than snapshot surveys alone. By tracking tagged fish, the project can quantify seasonal tributary use, detect connectivity with the mainstem, and evaluate whether movement patterns align with changing environmental conditions or life-history events such as reproduction.
A key feature of the proposal is coordination with existing monitoring programs on the mainstem San Juan River and with tagging studies run by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). Because these programs already have the capacity to tag and scan fish, the tributary work can be leveraged to improve understanding of dispersal between tributaries and mainstem reaches. This kind of integration matters because tributary findings become more actionable when they can be linked to broader mainstem population trends, rather than remaining isolated to small subwatersheds.
From a management perspective, the project is framed as producing information that can directly guide decisions in the San Juan River system. One expected outcome is an updated picture of the status of native fishes in tributary habitats, including species that may have declined substantially in the mainstem. The opportunity specifically highlights roundtail chub (Gila robusta), noting it has virtually disappeared from mainstem habitats and that tributaries might be especially important for its persistence. The work is also relevant to recovering populations of federally listed species, where identifying essential seasonal habitats and movement corridors can shape conservation priorities. Another intended outcome is a clearer understanding of how tributaries are used seasonally and whether periodic access to tributary habitats could help bolster mainstem native populations. At the same time, the project will evaluate whether tributaries are acting as sources of nonnative fish that negatively interact with natives, information that can influence targeted removal, barrier management, or habitat modifications. Finally, by explicitly assessing barriers to movement, the study can inform whether restoring connectivity (or in some cases maintaining selective barriers to limit nonnative spread) would benefit native fish conservation.
Administratively, this was a continuation opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.517 (Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act). The Bureau of Reclamation anticipated a single award with total funding of $118,296, with the award floor and ceiling both set at $118,296 and no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted on September 7, 2012, with a closing date of September 20, 2012, and it was archived on September 21, 2012. Eligible applicants were broadly described to include governmental entities, nonprofit and other institutions, tribal governments and Native American organizations, individuals, and private-sector organizations, though the listing of eligible categories in the source information emphasizes Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) and state governments. The sponsoring agency is the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, and the point of contact listed for access issues was Timothy Wagoner, Grants Management Specialist (801-524-3704).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Use and Importance of Tributaries to Sustain Native Fish Communities in the San Juan River."
2) Who is the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency is the Bureau of Reclamation (Upper Colorado Region).
3) What type of award is being offered?
This opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement.
4) What is the CFDA number and program authority listed?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.517 (Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act).
5) What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to improve how managers understand and protect native fish in the San Juan River system by evaluating how tributaries support (or sometimes threaten) native fish communities.
6) Why are tributaries important in this project?
The opportunity emphasizes that tributaries may play an outsized role in sustaining native fish populations by providing seasonal habitat advantages, such as:
- Better habitat conditions than the mainstem during certain times of year
- Spawning or nursery habitat
- Seasonal refuges when the main river becomes too warm, turbid, or otherwise stressful
7) Does the project also consider risks associated with tributaries?
Yes. The project is designed to capture both benefits and risks. Tributaries can also function as pathways or source areas for nonnative fish that compete with, prey on, or otherwise harm native species.
8) What is the general study approach described in the opportunity?
The project focuses on seasonal surveys of major tributaries to the San Juan River. Sampling reaches are distributed along longitudinal gradients in three main tributaries to assess how fish communities and habitat conditions change from lower areas near the mainstem connection to higher reaches.
9) How many tributaries are included in the spatial design?
The opportunity describes sampling along gradients in three main tributaries.
10) What is the purpose of sampling along longitudinal gradients?
This design is intended to detect spatial and seasonal changes in fish communities and habitat conditions, and to evaluate how much exchange occurs between tributary habitats and the main river.
11) What are the research objectives for the project?
The work is organized around four research objectives:
- Document fish community composition in tributaries and track how it varies across space and time.
- Describe key habitat conditions in each tributary and relate physical conditions to biological patterns.
- Assess whether fish movement into, out of, and within tributaries is linked to environmental conditions and reproductive ecology.
- Identify potential barriers to fish movement within tributaries.
12) What kinds of fish community information will be collected?
The project will document fish community composition and how it changes over space and time to help identify where native species are persisting, where nonnative species are concentrated, and whether community structure shifts seasonally or between years.
13) What habitat variables are mentioned for measurement?
The opportunity lists several habitat and environmental conditions to be described in each tributary, including:
- Flow statistics
- Temperature
- Turbidity
- Overhead cover
- Channel dimensions such as width and depth
14) What is the project trying to learn about fish movement?
The project will evaluate whether fish movement into, out of, and within tributaries is related to environmental conditions (such as temperature and flow) and to species reproductive ecology. This includes questions such as whether fish move into tributaries during spawning periods, during high-flow events, or when mainstem conditions deteriorate.
15) What does the opportunity mean by barriers to fish movement?
The project will identify potential barriers within tributaries. These may include natural features or human-made structures that prevent fish from reaching critical habitats, fragment populations, or limit access to seasonal refuges.
16) What field methods are planned for fish sampling?
Fish population densities will be estimated using backpack electrofishing gear and seines, described as commonly used methods for wadeable tributary environments that support consistent seasonal comparisons among sites.
17) Will the project include fish tagging?
Yes. A major component is marking fish that are 150 mm and larger with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags.
18) Why are PIT tags being used in this project?
PIT tags are used to identify individual fish over time and document where and when they move. The opportunity notes that this provides stronger evidence than snapshot surveys alone and can be used to quantify seasonal tributary use, detect connectivity with the mainstem, and evaluate whether movement aligns with changing environmental conditions or life-history events such as reproduction.
19) Does the project coordinate with existing monitoring efforts?
Yes. The proposal highlights coordination with existing mainstem San Juan River monitoring programs and with tagging studies run by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). Because these programs already have capacity to tag and scan fish, the tributary work can be leveraged to improve understanding of dispersal between tributaries and mainstem reaches.
20) What management outcomes are expected from the project?
The opportunity frames the work as producing information that can guide management decisions in the San Juan River system, including:
- An updated picture of the status of native fishes in tributary habitats, including species that may have declined in the mainstem
- Better understanding of seasonal tributary use and connectivity with the mainstem
- Information on whether tributaries are sources of nonnative fish that negatively interact with native species
- Identification of movement barriers to inform connectivity restoration or selective barrier strategies
21) Which native species is specifically highlighted in the opportunity?
The opportunity specifically highlights roundtail chub (Gila robusta), stating it has virtually disappeared from mainstem habitats and that tributaries might be especially important for its persistence.
22) How does the project relate to federally listed species?
The opportunity states the work is relevant to recovering populations of federally listed species by helping identify essential seasonal habitats and movement corridors that can shape conservation priorities.
23) Can the findings affect management actions toward nonnative fish?
Yes. The opportunity notes that understanding whether tributaries serve as sources of nonnative fish could influence targeted removal, barrier management, or habitat modifications.
24) How can barrier findings be used in management?
The project is intended to inform decisions about connectivity, including whether restoring connectivity would benefit native fish conservation or whether maintaining selective barriers could help limit nonnative spread.
25) Is this a new competition or a continuation?
This was described as a continuation opportunity.
26) What was the anticipated number of awards?
The Bureau of Reclamation anticipated a single award.
27) What was the total funding amount for the award?
The total funding amount was $118,296.
28) What were the award floor and ceiling?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling were set at $118,296.
29) Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
30) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on September 7, 2012, and the closing date was September 20, 2012.
31) When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on September 21, 2012.
32) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were broadly described to include governmental entities, nonprofit and other institutions, tribal governments and Native American organizations, individuals, and private-sector organizations. The eligible category listing in the source information emphasizes Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) and state governments.
33) Who is the point of contact listed for access issues?
The point of contact for access issues was Timothy Wagoner, Grants Management Specialist, at 801-524-3704.
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