Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU | G20AS00098

Opportunity Information: Apply for G20AS00098

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) funding opportunity titled "Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G20AS00098) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary research solicitation issued under the Department of the Interior. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means USGS expects to have substantial involvement during the project (for example, collaboration on study design, data coordination, and translating results for management use), rather than acting only as a pass-through funder. The program sits in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 15.808) and is aimed at producing applied, decision-relevant science.

At its core, the project focuses on Midwestern lakes and asks investigators to quantify how fish growth and overall fish production are linked to changes in water temperature. The grant is not just looking for descriptive correlations; it is asking for research that can rigorously measure and explain the relationship between warming water and biological responses in fish populations, with an emphasis on outcomes that matter to fisheries management. In addition to documenting present-day relationships, the work must also build modeling tools that estimate how lake water temperatures are likely to change under predicted future climate scenarios. Those temperature projections are then meant to be tied back to biological implications, so managers can anticipate where and when fish populations may face heightened risk.

A major deliverable is the identification of threats to fish growth and production that stem from climate-driven temperature changes. This includes pinpointing conditions that could reduce growth rates, shorten suitable habitat windows, increase physiological stress, shift productivity, or otherwise undermine sustainable population levels. Beyond identifying risks, the opportunity explicitly calls for the development of adaptive management strategies. In practice, that means the research should translate into actionable approaches that agencies can use to maintain sustainable fish populations and improve resilience to climate change. The stated intent is to generate information that is timely and directly relevant to resource managers, supporting practical decisions rather than producing results that remain purely academic.

The opportunity is limited to eligible CESU partners under the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU network (listed broadly as "Others" with eligibility clarified in the full announcement). USGS anticipated making a single award with an expected project maximum (award ceiling) of $475,000. The notice was created on June 15, 2020, with an original closing date of June 30, 2020, indicating a relatively short application window.

Finally, the project is also positioned to support longer-term regional climate adaptation planning. USGS notes that the work will help identify future science opportunities for the Midcontinent Climate Adaptation Science Center (MC CASC). In other words, the research is intended not only to answer immediate questions about fish, lakes, and temperature change, but also to help shape the next set of priority studies and investments needed for climate adaptation across the Midcontinent region.

• 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, Great Lakes Northern Forests 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 Jun 15, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2020. (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 $475,000.00 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 G20AS00098

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: