Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU | G19AS00118

Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00118

This grant opportunity comes from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), and is being offered through the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The project is set up as a cooperative agreement rather than a typical contract, meaning the recipient is expected to work closely with USGS and other partners while carrying out the work. The focus is on applied field research tied directly to land and water management decisions in north-central Montana, in sagebrush landscapes managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The work centers on beaver dam analogs (BDAs), which are restoration structures placed in streams to mimic some of the water storage and habitat effects created by natural beaver dams. BDAs can alter stream hydrology, channel form, and the availability of ponded or slow-water habitats. Because these changes can influence amphibians, reptiles, and fish (and the diseases that affect them), the purpose of the project is to collect data before and after BDAs are installed to see whether restoration actions shift the biological community and pathogen dynamics in measurable ways.

Field sampling is planned for headwater stream sites and associated waterbodies, with surveys occurring during June and July (the description indicates a 2020 field window, but the text also includes an unclear reference suggesting later years; the essential point is summer field sampling around BDA installation timing). Survey locations will include three main categories: (1) existing ponds, (2) stream reaches scheduled to receive BDAs, and (3) reference stream sections that will not receive BDAs. That design is meant to support before-after and treated-versus-untreated comparisons, which is important for drawing defensible conclusions about whether any observed changes are actually attributable to the BDAs rather than normal year-to-year variation.

A major emphasis is disease surveillance for amphibians and reptiles. The project will examine whether restoration-driven changes to the stream channel and community structure affect the distribution and prevalence of key pathogens. Two primary pathogen targets are called out: amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, commonly abbreviated Bd) and ranaviruses. The planned approach combines direct sampling of animals and environmental sampling. Field crews will collect swab samples from individual amphibian or reptile specimens (a common method for detecting Bd and some other pathogens) and will also use environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to test water samples for the presence of these pathogens. Pairing organism-level swabs with eDNA increases the chance of detection across different habitat types and helps characterize pathogen occurrence even when animals are hard to capture.

Beyond pathogens, the grant supports broader biological monitoring, including population and community structure data for amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna) as well as fishes. The idea is to document what species are present at each site and how assemblages may change after restoration, then connect those shifts to pathogen patterns. In practical terms, that means the awardee will be expected to conduct standardized surveys across sites, maintain consistent protocols across the pre- and post-installation periods, and produce datasets that can support statistical comparisons of community composition and disease metrics.

The anticipated deliverables are both management-facing and science-facing. On the management side, the project is expected to produce a spreadsheet and formal data release shared with BLM and other cooperators, documenting which vertebrate species and pathogens were detected at each site. On the research side, the project is expected to result in a peer-reviewed journal article that provides statistically valid estimates of change in community composition of herpetofauna and fishes, as well as changes in their associated pathogens, in relation to BDA installation.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding under CFDA 15.808, with an award ceiling of $55,704 and an expectation of a single award. Eligible applicants are described broadly as "others" but limited to CESU partners (meaning an institution that is already part of the CESU network and eligible to receive CESU-funded cooperative agreements). The funding opportunity number is G19AS00118, it was created July 10, 2019, and the original closing date was July 26, 2019. Overall, the project is a targeted, relatively small-budget field and lab effort designed to generate actionable evidence about how stream restoration using BDAs may influence wildlife communities and disease risk in BLM-managed sagebrush headwaters in Montana.

• 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, Rocky Mountain 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 Jul 10, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 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 $55,704.00 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 G19AS00118

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