Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU | G19AS00069

Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00069

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00069) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research award intended to support advanced coastal science focused on how barrier islands change over time. Issued by the Department of the Interior, USGS, this discretionary opportunity uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which typically means the USGS expects to have substantial involvement during the project (for example, collaborating on technical direction, data sharing, model development choices, and review of deliverables). The activity falls under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA number 15.808, and it is limited to eligible applicants that are partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Gulf Coast CESU.

The core goal of the project is to improve the ability to predict barrier island evolution along U.S. coastlines by advancing the use of coupled, state-of-the-art numerical models that represent the interacting processes shaping coastal landscapes. The opportunity emphasizes an integrated approach that brings together multiple drivers and mechanisms rather than treating them in isolation. The processes explicitly called out include sea-level rise, tides, waves, river flow, sediment transport, and storm-driven morphological change, reflecting the reality that barrier islands are shaped by both everyday conditions and episodic extreme events. The intended research should focus on coastal processes of mutual interest to USGS and the selected CESU partner, suggesting the work should be directly relevant to federal coastal science priorities as well as to partner expertise and regional needs.

A key expected outcome is the development of a new integrated modeling framework that incorporates the ADCIRC model. ADCIRC (Advanced Circulation) is widely used for simulating coastal water levels and storm surge, and here it is positioned as an essential component for assessing barrier island response across different timescales. The project is expected to address short-term dynamics, such as the impacts of individual storms on island morphology, overwash, breaching, and inundation patterns, while also extending to longer-term evolution over many storm cycles. Importantly, the longer-term perspective is expected to include sea-level change, recognizing that rising baseline water levels can amplify storm impacts, shift shoreline positions, and alter sediment budgets and transport pathways over time.

The practical purpose of this modeling advancement is to improve decision support for coastal management. Better predictive tools can inform planning for storm impacts, long-term resilience strategies, and prioritization of mitigation or restoration actions, particularly as future storms and sea-level rise increasingly affect coastal communities, habitats, and infrastructure. By connecting event-scale storm response to multi-decadal trends, the work aims to provide a more coherent and actionable understanding of how barrier islands may behave under changing climate and ocean conditions, which can be used by agencies and stakeholders responsible for coastal ecosystems and risk reduction.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on May 28, 2019, with an original closing date of June 11, 2019, indicating a short application window typical of targeted CESU competitions. The award ceiling is $150,000, with one expected award, meaning funding is intended for a single project team rather than a broad multi-award program. Overall, this is a focused, research-driven cooperative agreement designed to produce tangible modeling advancements, likely including model coupling workflows, calibration/validation efforts, scenario simulations, and deliverables that can be applied to real barrier island management questions on U.S. coastlines.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 28, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2019. (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.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G19AS00069

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