Opportunity Information: Apply for R13AS80009
Apply for R13AS80009
- The Bureau of Reclamation Denver Office in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WaterSMART Applied Science Grants for the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.557 Desert and Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperatives.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 1, 2013 and posted on May 1, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2013. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- In accordance with Public Law 111 11, section 9504, of the SECURE Water Act and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661 666c, as delegated to Reclamation in Departmental Manual 255 DM 1.1B., eligible applicants include any a. States and territories identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902 as amended and supplemented specifically Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands b. Irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery in the Western United States or Territories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902 as amended and supplemented specifically Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands c. Tribes located in the Western United States d. Universities located in the United States e. Nonprofit research institutions located in the United States f. Nonprofit organizations located in the United States o Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for funding under all three funding categories if the proposal addresses fish or wildlife habitat in wetland, riparian, or aquatic areas and there is a nexus to a Reclamation project or activity.
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Opportunity Summary:
The WaterSMART Applied Science Grants for the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative (Desert LCC) is a competitive, cost-shared grant opportunity run by the Bureau of Reclamation (Denver Office) under WaterSMART. It is aimed at helping natural and cultural resource managers deal with fast-growing, real-world pressures in the Desert LCC region, especially those tied to climate change. The program is built around the idea that managers need usable science, not just studies for publication, and that the most effective solutions often come from partnerships that work across large landscapes and jurisdictional boundaries. Through the Desert LCC, Reclamation and its partners are trying to strengthen the region's shared science capacity so conservation and water-management decisions can keep up with changing water availability, shifting land use, invasive species, and the need to protect sensitive species and important cultural or historical places.
The core purpose of the funding is to support applied science projects that directly help resource managers make decisions about natural and cultural resources in a changing climate, where there is a clear connection to water resources management. The announcement is explicit that projects do not have to be only about water, as long as the topic affects water management or is affected by it. For example, a project could focus on an endangered species issue that might constrain water diversions, or it could focus on riparian habitat, wetlands, aquatic areas, or archeological sites that could be impacted by reservoir operations. A key expectation is that the deliverables are practical, such as decision-support tools, assessment methods, analyses, or other products that can be put into use by agencies and partners managing on-the-ground resources.
Another notable feature is the program's encouragement, where appropriate, to incorporate Native American ancestral knowledge and cultural landscape perspectives. The intent is to help managers better integrate cultural and natural resource considerations into landscape-scale conservation, rather than treating them as separate issues. This is especially relevant in desert landscapes where water management decisions can have long-term consequences for culturally important sites, traditional use areas, and broader cultural landscapes.
For fiscal year 2013, the Desert LCC structured its priorities around a set of Critical Management Questions. These were developed and prioritized by the Desert LCC Science Working Group, based on Priority Science Needs identified in a Comprehensive Science Needs Assessment completed in 2011 to 2012, and then approved by the Desert LCC Steering Committee. The reason for narrowing the focus to a smaller set of questions was strategic: the Steering Committee wanted to concentrate funding on a few broadly relevant management questions so that funded projects would be more likely to produce measurable, shared outcomes and directly support conservation design and delivery across the Desert LCC region. In practical terms, that means proposals were expected to align with these Critical Management Questions, particularly those centered on analyzing how climate change and other landscape-scale stressors are affecting (or will affect) natural and cultural resources tied to water management, and on developing tools to assess those impacts and adapt to them within the Desert LCC boundaries.
The award is a grant with an announced ceiling of $150,000 and no stated minimum award amount (award floor listed as $0). Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants are expected to contribute non-federal cost share consistent with the program requirements. The opportunity was posted May 1, 2013, with an application closing date of June 11, 2013, and an archive date of July 11, 2013. The CFDA number listed is 15.557 (Desert and Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperatives), and the opportunity number is R13AS80009.
Eligibility is broad and designed to reflect the cooperative, multi-partner nature of landscape conservation and water management in the West. Eligible applicants include: the western states and territories identified in the Reclamation Act of 1902 (as amended); irrigation districts, water districts, and other water or power delivery organizations in those same western areas; federally recognized Tribes located in the western United States; U.S. universities; U.S.-based nonprofit research institutions; and U.S.-based nonprofit organizations. There is an additional eligibility note for nonprofits stating that they are eligible across all three funding categories if their proposal addresses fish or wildlife habitat in wetland, riparian, or aquatic areas and there is a nexus to a Reclamation project or activity, reinforcing the program's emphasis on applied relevance to Reclamation-related water management.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as targeted funding to turn priority science needs into management-ready products for desert landscapes, with a strong emphasis on cross-partner relevance, climate adaptation, and the intersection of water operations with both ecological and cultural resource outcomes. Additional background, including the Desert LCC region map and the Critical Management Questions, was provided through Reclamation's Desert LCC WaterSMART page (as referenced in the announcement). For access issues with the full announcement, the listed contact was Shaun Wilken, Grants Management Specialist, at 303-445-3697.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): WaterSMART Applied Science Grants (Desert LCC)
1) What is the WaterSMART Applied Science Grants opportunity for the Desert LCC?
This is a competitive, cost-shared grant opportunity run by the Bureau of Reclamation (Denver Office) under the WaterSMART program. It supports applied science projects intended to help natural and cultural resource managers in the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative (Desert LCC) region respond to real-world pressures, especially those related to climate change.
2) What is the main goal of this grant program?
The core purpose is to fund applied science projects that directly support decision-making for natural and cultural resources in a changing climate, with a clear connection (nexus) to water resources management.
3) Does a proposed project have to be only about water?
No. The announcement states that projects do not have to be only about water, as long as the topic affects water management or is affected by it. The key expectation is that there is a clear water-management connection.
4) What kinds of topics fit this opportunity?
Examples described include projects focused on endangered species issues that could constrain water diversions, riparian habitat, wetlands, aquatic areas, or archeological sites that could be impacted by reservoir operations. More broadly, projects addressing changing water availability, shifting land use, invasive species, and protection of sensitive species and important cultural or historical places can be relevant if they connect to water management.
5) What kinds of deliverables are expected from funded projects?
Deliverables are expected to be practical and usable by managers, such as decision-support tools, assessment methods, analyses, or other management-ready products that can be put into use by agencies and partners managing on-the-ground resources.
6) What does "usable science" mean in the context of this funding?
The program emphasizes science products intended for real management decisions, not research intended only for publication. Projects are expected to produce outputs that resource managers can apply directly.
7) Why does the program emphasize partnerships and working across boundaries?
The opportunity is built around the idea that effective solutions often come from partnerships that operate across large landscapes and jurisdictional boundaries. Through the Desert LCC, Reclamation and partners aim to strengthen shared regional science capacity so decisions can keep pace with changing conditions.
8) How does climate change factor into the program priorities?
The program is aimed at helping managers address fast-growing pressures tied especially to climate change. Proposals were expected to analyze how climate change and other landscape-scale stressors are affecting (or will affect) natural and cultural resources connected to water management, and to develop tools to assess impacts and adapt within the Desert LCC boundaries.
9) What are the Desert LCC "Critical Management Questions" and why do they matter?
For fiscal year 2013, Desert LCC priorities were organized around Critical Management Questions developed and prioritized by the Desert LCC Science Working Group. They were based on Priority Science Needs identified in a Comprehensive Science Needs Assessment (completed 2011 to 2012) and approved by the Desert LCC Steering Committee. Proposals were expected to align with these Critical Management Questions so that funded projects would produce measurable, shared outcomes across the region.
10) Were applicants expected to align proposals to the Critical Management Questions?
Yes. The announcement indicates that proposals were expected to align with the Critical Management Questions, particularly those focused on climate change and landscape-scale stressors affecting resources tied to water management, and on developing tools to assess and adapt to those impacts within the Desert LCC boundaries.
11) Is there an expectation to incorporate Native American knowledge or perspectives?
Where appropriate, the program encourages incorporating Native American ancestral knowledge and cultural landscape perspectives. The intent is to help integrate cultural and natural resource considerations into landscape-scale conservation and water management, especially in desert landscapes where water decisions can have long-term cultural consequences.
12) What is the maximum award amount?
The announced award ceiling is $150,000.
13) Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated. The award floor is listed as $0.
14) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. This is a cost-shared opportunity, and applicants are expected to contribute non-federal cost share consistent with program requirements.
15) What type of funding instrument is this?
The award type is a grant.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include: the western states and territories identified in the Reclamation Act of 1902 (as amended); irrigation districts, water districts, and other water or power delivery organizations in those same western areas; federally recognized Tribes located in the western United States; U.S. universities; U.S.-based nonprofit research institutions; and U.S.-based nonprofit organizations.
17) Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. U.S.-based nonprofit organizations are listed as eligible. The announcement also notes an additional eligibility consideration for nonprofits: they are eligible across all three funding categories if the proposal addresses fish or wildlife habitat in wetland, riparian, or aquatic areas and there is a nexus to a Reclamation project or activity.
18) What does the nonprofit eligibility note about a Reclamation nexus mean?
The announcement highlights that, for nonprofits, eligibility across all three funding categories applies when the proposal addresses fish or wildlife habitat in wetland, riparian, or aquatic areas and connects to a Reclamation project or activity. This reinforces the program emphasis on applied relevance to Reclamation-related water management.
19) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.557 (Desert and Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperatives).
20) What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is R13AS80009.
21) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 1, 2013. The application closing date was June 11, 2013.
22) What is the archive date listed for the opportunity?
The archive date is July 11, 2013.
23) Where could applicants find additional background information referenced in the announcement?
The announcement referenced additional background available through Reclamation's Desert LCC WaterSMART page, including the Desert LCC region map and the Critical Management Questions.
24) Who was the contact person listed for access issues with the full announcement?
The listed contact was Shaun Wilken, Grants Management Specialist, at 303-445-3697.
25) Which Bureau of Reclamation office ran this opportunity?
The opportunity is described as being run by the Bureau of Reclamation (Denver Office) under WaterSMART.
26) What geographic focus is implied by this funding?
The funding is focused on the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative (Desert LCC) region. In addition, eligibility references western states and territories identified in the Reclamation Act of 1902 (as amended), and federally recognized Tribes located in the western United States.
27) What is the broader management context this program is trying to support?
The program is intended to help conservation and water-management decisions keep up with changing water availability, shifting land use, invasive species, and the need to protect sensitive species and important cultural or historical places, with a strong emphasis on producing products that support conservation design and delivery across the Desert LCC region.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (R13AS80009) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| WaterSMART Applied Science Grants for the Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative Apply for R13AS80010 Funding Number: R13AS80010 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Denver Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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| National Park Service Moose Wilson corridor Transportation Visitor Use Levels, Patterns Apply for NPS NOIP13AC00314 Funding Number: NPS NOIP13AC00314 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BLM WY Genetic Diversity and Adaptation and Restoration Seeding Apply for L13AS00075 Funding Number: L13AS00075 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BLM AZ Sonoran Landscape Project Apply for L13AS00076 Funding Number: L13AS00076 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| 2013 Idaho BLM Noxious Weed Control Program Apply for L13AS00077 Funding Number: L13AS00077 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Visitor Services Project Apply for P13AS00055 Funding Number: P13AS00055 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $415,000 |
| Accuracy Assessment of Vegetation Map at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Apply for P13AS00056 Funding Number: P13AS00056 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $267,084 |
| Assistance for Visibility Data Analysis and Image Display Techniques Apply for P13AS00057 Funding Number: P13AS00057 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $814,101 |
| BLM WY Reclamation Seed Microcapillary Barrier Apply for L13AS00079 Funding Number: L13AS00079 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| BLM Alaska Rapid Ecoregional Assessment REA Central Yukon Apply for L13AS00078 Funding Number: L13AS00078 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Ely District Nevada Implementation of Ely RMP for Renewable Resources Apply for L13AS00081 Funding Number: L13AS00081 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Ely District Nevada Implementation of Ely RMP for Nonrenewable Resources Apply for L13AS00082 Funding Number: L13AS00082 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| BLM OR WA NE Oregon Noxious Weed Projects Apply for L13AS00072 Funding Number: L13AS00072 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| BLM OR WA Lower Grande Ronde River Weed Projects Apply for L13AS00073 Funding Number: L13AS00073 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $61,000 |
| Arizona BLM Mechanized Trails Care, Study, Maintenance and Development Apply for L13AS00080 Funding Number: L13AS00080 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| White Pine Green Up Apply for L13AS00083 Funding Number: L13AS00083 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| National Park Service Emergency Preservation and Documentation of a Stratified, Multicomponent Habitation Site Apply for NPS NOIP13AC00354 Funding Number: NPS NOIP13AC00354 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| LCT Restoration Lake Tahoe Basin Apply for F13AS00167 Funding Number: F13AS00167 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| North American Wetlands Conservation Funds Apply for FWS R4 13 008 Funding Number: FWS R4 13 008 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $67,000 |
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