Opportunity Information: Apply for P16AS00222
Apply for P16AS00222
- The DOI-NPS in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Vital Signs Water Quality Monitoring in GRSM and APHN Streams" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 08, 2016 and posted on Jun 08, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $117,500.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Vital Signs Water Quality Monitoring in GRSM and APHN Streams" (Funding Opportunity Number P16AS00222) was issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (DOI-NPS) under the National Park Service Vital Signs Program. It is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, meaning the NPS expected to have substantial involvement in the work alongside the recipient rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The activity focus is environmental monitoring and assessment, specifically centered on long-term stream water quality work connected to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (commonly abbreviated GRSM) and the Appalachian Highlands Network (APHN).
The core purpose of the project is to sustain and strengthen long-term water quality monitoring in selected watersheds that are part of the NPS Vital Signs framework. Vital Signs monitoring is intended to track key indicators of ecosystem health over time, so this opportunity emphasizes continuity and consistency in data collection. By maintaining a long-term record, the program can detect trends, identify emerging problems, and evaluate whether conditions are improving or deteriorating across park-managed aquatic systems.
A major scientific driver of the work is continued investigation into acidic deposition and its effects on stream chemistry and aquatic life. Acidic deposition (often associated with airborne pollutants that return to the surface via rain, snow, fog, or dry fallout) can alter soil and water chemistry, mobilize metals, and reduce the buffering capacity of watersheds. The opportunity specifically highlights improving understanding of the fate and transport of these pollutants as they move from the atmosphere into soils and ultimately into streams. In practical terms, this implies monitoring and analysis that links atmospheric inputs, watershed processes, and stream responses, helping to clarify how pollutants travel through the system and which landscape or soil characteristics influence their impacts.
In addition to tracking pollutant movement, the project calls for characterization of natural biogeochemical processes that affect stream water quality. This matters because not all changes in water chemistry are driven directly by human-caused pollution; natural processes such as weathering, organic matter decomposition, seasonal flow variation, and biological uptake can influence acidity, alkalinity, nutrient levels, and metal concentrations. By separating or contextualizing natural variability, the NPS can better evaluate the true risks posed by acidic deposition and make more confident management decisions about protecting aquatic resources and sensitive species.
The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $117,500, with an original and current closing date of June 15, 2016. It was posted and created on June 8, 2016, indicating a short turnaround between announcement and deadline. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, along with other eligible entities as clarified in the full announcement. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 15.945, which corresponds to National Park Service assistance programs.
Overall, this funding opportunity was designed to keep a long-running, scientifically rigorous monitoring effort in place for GRSM and APHN streams, while sharpening the causal understanding of how acidic deposition affects water quality and aquatic biota. The emphasis on long-term data, watershed-to-stream pollutant transport, and biogeochemical context reflects a management need for defensible trend information and risk assessment capability across these nationally significant park watersheds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Vital Signs Water Quality Monitoring in GRSM and APHN Streams."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P16AS00222.
Which federal agency issued this funding opportunity?
This opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (DOI-NPS), under the National Park Service Vital Signs Program.
What type of funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement mean in this context?
A cooperative agreement means the National Park Service expected to have substantial involvement in the work alongside the recipient, rather than only providing funding without ongoing participation.
What is the overall focus area of the project?
The activity focus is environmental monitoring and assessment, centered on long-term stream water quality monitoring connected to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) and the Appalachian Highlands Network (APHN).
What does "GRSM" stand for?
GRSM is the commonly used abbreviation for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
What does "APHN" refer to?
APHN refers to the Appalachian Highlands Network.
What is the purpose of the project?
The core purpose is to sustain and strengthen long-term water quality monitoring in selected watersheds that are part of the National Park Service Vital Signs framework.
What is "Vital Signs" monitoring?
Vital Signs monitoring is intended to track key indicators of ecosystem health over time. In this opportunity, it specifically emphasizes continuity and consistency in stream water quality data collection to support long-term trend tracking.
Why is long-term monitoring emphasized?
Maintaining a long-term record helps detect trends, identify emerging problems, and evaluate whether conditions are improving or deteriorating in park-managed aquatic systems.
What scientific issue is highlighted as a major driver for the work?
A major scientific driver is continued investigation into acidic deposition and its effects on stream chemistry and aquatic life.
What is acidic deposition, as described in the opportunity?
Acidic deposition is associated with airborne pollutants that return to the surface through rain, snow, fog, or dry fallout. It can alter soil and water chemistry, mobilize metals, and reduce the buffering capacity of watersheds.
What does the project aim to improve understanding of regarding acidic deposition?
The opportunity highlights improving understanding of the fate and transport of pollutants as they move from the atmosphere into soils and ultimately into streams.
What does "fate and transport" mean here?
In practical terms for this project, it refers to monitoring and analysis that links atmospheric inputs, watershed processes, and stream responses to clarify how pollutants travel through the system and what landscape or soil characteristics influence their impacts.
Does the opportunity address only pollution-related changes in water chemistry?
No. In addition to pollutant movement, the project calls for characterizing natural biogeochemical processes that affect stream water quality.
What kinds of natural processes are mentioned as influencing stream water quality?
The opportunity cites natural processes such as weathering, organic matter decomposition, seasonal flow variation, and biological uptake as factors that can influence acidity, alkalinity, nutrient levels, and metal concentrations.
Why does the project include natural biogeochemical characterization?
By separating or contextualizing natural variability, the National Park Service can better evaluate risks from acidic deposition and make more confident management decisions about protecting aquatic resources and sensitive species.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for the opportunity is $117,500.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted and created on June 8, 2016.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date was June 15, 2016.
How much time was there between posting and the deadline?
Based on the provided dates, the opportunity had a short turnaround between announcement (June 8, 2016) and closing (June 15, 2016).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, along with other eligible entities as clarified in the full announcement.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 15.945, which corresponds to National Park Service assistance programs.
What kinds of outcomes is this opportunity designed to support?
It is designed to keep a long-running, scientifically rigorous monitoring effort in place for GRSM and APHN streams and to strengthen causal understanding of how acidic deposition affects water quality and aquatic biota, supported by long-term data and biogeochemical context.
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