Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU | G18AS00112

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (Californian CESU) opportunity (G18AS00112)?

This is a US Geological Survey (USGS) research funding opportunity administered through the US Department of the Interior and led by the USGS Fort Collins Science Center. It was posted as a discretionary funding opportunity under a cooperative agreement mechanism.

2) Which federal agency is offering and leading this funding call?

The opportunity is offered by the US Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior, and is led by the USGS Fort Collins Science Center.

3) What type of funding mechanism is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The posting describes this as a cooperative agreement. In this structure, the project is expected to involve substantial collaboration between the recipient and the federal science team, rather than operating as a hands-off grant.

4) What does "substantial collaboration" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the posting description, the intent is that the recipient will work closely with the federal science team during the project. The award is framed as a cooperative research effort rather than a project carried out independently with minimal federal involvement.

5) What is the main purpose of the project being funded?

The core purpose is to determine whether high-elevation mountain lakes in three Sierra Nevada national park units are moving toward rapid eutrophication that could lead to harmful algal blooms. The work is intended to detect how widespread bloom conditions are (or could become), understand what drives bloom formation, and characterize how lake productivity and nutrient cycling are changing across the landscape.

6) Which parks and locations are the focus of this research?

The project focuses on high-elevation mountain lakes within Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada.

7) What environmental concern is motivating this solicitation?

The concern is that historically low-nutrient, clear-water lakes may be shifting toward more nutrient-enriched conditions where algal growth could intensify and potentially become harmful (including harmful algal bloom risk).

8) What is eutrophication in the context of this opportunity?

In this solicitation, eutrophication refers to a shift toward higher nutrient levels and increased lake productivity that can promote heavier algal growth. The posting ties this shift to the potential for harmful algal blooms.

9) What are the main research questions the opportunity wants addressed?

The scope is described through three main research questions: (1) how common algal blooms are across the broader landscape of these parks and what factors drive their occurrence; (2) how algal productivity and biogeochemistry vary across landscape and temperature gradients; and (3) the spatial extent of mid- to late-summer phytoplankton and periphyton productivity across Sierra Nevada national parks.

10) Does the opportunity emphasize a single-lake study or a broader assessment?

The description points toward a landscape-scale assessment rather than focusing on one lake, with interest in how widespread bloom conditions are across lakes in the three park units.

11) What kinds of "drivers" of algal blooms does the posting suggest investigating?

The opportunity implies examining factors such as nutrient inputs, watershed characteristics, climate and temperature patterns, hydrology, and other conditions that influence bloom risk and bloom timing/location.

12) What does the opportunity mean by "algal productivity and biogeochemistry"?

The description suggests interest beyond simply measuring algal abundance or chlorophyll. It points toward understanding underlying chemical and biological processes such as nutrient limitation and carbon and nutrient cycling, and how these may change across warming or elevation-related temperature gradients.

13) What organisms or algal communities are specifically mentioned?

The posting specifically highlights phytoplankton (free-floating algae) and periphyton (attached algae) productivity.

14) Is there a particular time of year emphasized for observing productivity or bloom conditions?

Yes. The scope explicitly highlights mid- to late-summer as a key seasonal window for assessing phytoplankton and periphyton productivity and for observing conditions when productivity often peaks.

15) What is the CFDA/assistance listing associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is under CFDA 15.808 and is described as supporting science and technology and other research and development activities.

16) How many awards were anticipated?

The funding call anticipated a single award.

17) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed for the opportunity is $10,000.

18) When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on August 7, 2018, with an original closing date of August 21, 2018.

19) How long was the application window?

Based on the posted dates (August 7, 2018 to August 21, 2018), the original application window was short.

20) What does the small award ceiling suggest about the intended scope of the work?

With an award ceiling of $10,000 and a single anticipated award, the solicitation reads as a small, targeted effort intended to support a focused piece of work, a pilot effort, or a specific component of a larger monitoring or research program.

21) Who is eligible to apply?

The eligibility category is described broadly as "Others," with additional details said to be provided in the full posting's eligibility section.

22) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G18AS00112.

23) What is the expected end use of the research results?

The solicitation is framed as producing park-relevant, management-useful science about the prevalence, drivers, and spatial patterns of algal productivity and bloom potential in sensitive Sierra Nevada mountain lake ecosystems.

24) What are the key outputs the opportunity appears to be seeking?

From the stated purpose and research questions, the work is expected to help (1) detect how widespread bloom conditions are (or may become), (2) identify environmental factors associated with bloom formation, and (3) characterize changes in lake productivity and nutrient cycling across the landscape, especially during mid- to late-summer.