Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU | G18AS00061

Opportunity Information: Apply for G18AS00061

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior, released a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G18AS00061). The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the USGS expects to have substantial involvement during the project, such as coordinating on study design, data needs, deliverables, or field and analytical approaches. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808.

The purpose of the project is to support research that links floodplain forest ecology in the Upper Mississippi River region with the ecology and growth patterns of the northern pecan (Carya illinoinensis). A central theme is dendrochronology, meaning the use of tree rings to reconstruct historical growth conditions, disturbances, and environmental variability. The research focus also explicitly includes hydroclimate variability, pointing to questions about how changes in hydrology and climate, such as flooding regimes, drought periods, seasonal water availability, and broader climate patterns, are reflected in tree growth and floodplain forest dynamics. In practical terms, the work would likely involve collecting tree-ring samples, analyzing growth signals, and relating those signals to hydrologic records or climate indicators relevant to the Upper Mississippi River floodplain system.

Eligibility is limited to partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically tied to the Great Rivers CESU, with the listing indicating "Others" and directing applicants to the eligibility clarification in the full announcement. This kind of restriction is typical for CESU opportunities, which are designed to route applied research through established federal-academic partnership networks.

The funding parameters are modest and targeted: a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $39,000, with the USGS expecting to make one award. The opportunity was created on June 6, 2018, with an original application closing date of June 20, 2018, indicating a short submission window consistent with many small, focused research awards. Overall, the grant is aimed at producing applied scientific insight into how floodplain forest conditions and northern pecan growth histories can serve as indicators of past and present hydroclimatic conditions in the Upper Mississippi River corridor, supporting broader understanding and management of these river-floodplain ecosystems.

• 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 Rivers 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 06, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2018. (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 $39,000.00 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 G18AS00061

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