Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G 21 2 SOI 4749
The Ecosystem Function Model Analysis on the Roanoke River is a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Sustainable Rivers Program funding opportunity intended to identify a qualified investigator or team to support research on how managed river flows affect floodplain inundation patterns and, in turn, floodplain forest health in the lower Roanoke River. Rather than requesting a full proposal up front, the Corps is first requesting Statements of Interest (SOIs) to screen for organizations and investigators with the right mix of technical skills, field capability, and familiarity with the Roanoke River system. The anticipated award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, and the work is framed as research and development under federal authority (10 U.S.C. 2358).
The project is motivated by a major operational change implemented in 2016 at Kerr Reservoir. Historically, releases were around 20,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), but the Corps shifted to a Quasi-Run-of-River (QRR) approach that can reach roughly 35,000 cfs during flood stage. This change was made in large part to improve ecological conditions, especially the health and sustainability of bottomland hardwood floodplain forests across a very large floodplain corridor (described as up to about 5 miles wide in places, among the largest bottomland hardwood expanses on the US East Coast). Existing long-term vegetation monitoring conducted by partners such as The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and academic researchers has revealed concerning trends, including declining numbers of some key species (the example given is Laurel Oak). Even where trees are surviving, growth appears to slow in years or seasons with prolonged inundation. At the same time, USACE has been developing detailed hydraulic models for parts of the river using HEC-RAS 2D, including areas where vegetation plots are located. This grant opportunity is essentially about bringing these strands together so managers can better understand whether the new flow regime is achieving the intended ecological outcomes and what adjustments, monitoring, or follow-on research might be needed.
The anticipated work has four main technical objectives. First, the selected team will use remote sensing imagery, paired with a partner’s peer-reviewed model, to map and quantify the extent and distribution of flooding across the landscape under reservoir releases in the 20,000 to 35,000 cfs range. The goal here is to translate changes in dam releases into real, spatially explicit inundation patterns that floodplain vegetation actually experiences. Second, the team will update and strengthen the existing vegetation analysis by integrating the remote sensing results, incorporating the Corps’ HEC-RAS 2D hydraulic outputs, and collecting additional field data, including tree-ring sampling (dendrochronology), to refine how inundation timing, depth, duration, and frequency relate to tree growth and overall forest condition. Third, the project will use these refined relationships as inputs to the Corps’ Ecosystem Function Model, allowing findings from plot-scale studies to be applied more broadly across the lower Roanoke River watershed and to evaluate how QRR operations may influence floodplain vegetation at a basin-wide scale rather than only at monitored plots. Fourth, the work is expected to end with practical recommendations for what additional research or long-term monitoring is necessary to capture delayed or cumulative impacts of QRR, recognizing that forest responses can unfold over many years.
A notable feature of the SOI review is that USACE is emphasizing qualifications and readiness over a detailed technical proposal at this stage. Preference is given to respondents who can demonstrate access to field technicians with direct working knowledge of the Roanoke River, strong familiarity with local species and floodplain ecology, and established working relationships with key basin partners. The notice also flags environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling as potentially part of the work, with the practical constraint that sampling may depend on weather and event timing, so teams need to be mobile, able to respond quickly, and capable of collecting samples and conducting or coordinating required laboratory analyses using baseline data and appropriate methods. In other words, the Corps is looking for teams that can combine modeling and remote sensing expertise with real field capacity and lab capability.
In terms of funding and schedule, about $30,000 was expected to be available for the base period, with the possibility of additional funding for follow-on work in later fiscal years if the project performs well and funds are available. The broader posting lists an award ceiling of $160,000 and indicates an expectation of a single award, which suggests the Corps may be planning a phased effort that could grow through options. The base period of performance is anticipated to be 12 months from the date of award, with up to four additional 12-month option periods subject to funding availability. The opportunity was posted to Grants.gov for a 30-day response window, with SOIs due by 5:00 PM Central Time on July 27, 2021. Points of contact included a grants specialist at the USACE Fort Worth District and the project manager supporting the effort.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as applied ecohydrology and decision-support work: integrating hydraulic modeling (HEC-RAS 2D), remote sensing inundation mapping, groundwater and vegetation datasets, and field-based growth evidence (tree rings) to calibrate and run an ecosystem function model that can inform how dam release strategies affect bottomland hardwood floodplain forests on the lower Roanoke River. The intended outcome is not just scientific publication, but management-relevant insight into whether the QRR operational shift is producing healthier floodplain vegetation, what tradeoffs may exist, and what monitoring and modeling improvements are needed to guide future reservoir operations.Apply for W9126G 21 2 SOI 4749
- The Department of Defense, Fort Worth District in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ecosystem Function Model Analysis on the Roanoke River" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 28, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 27, 2021. (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 $160,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Ecosystem Function Model Analysis on the Roanoke River" funding opportunity?
It is a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Sustainable Rivers Program funding opportunity focused on applied research to understand how managed river flows affect floodplain inundation patterns and, in turn, floodplain forest health in the lower Roanoke River.
What problem is this project trying to address?
The project responds to concerns about floodplain forest condition under a major operational change implemented in 2016 at Kerr Reservoir. Partners conducting long-term vegetation monitoring have observed concerning trends (for example, declines in Laurel Oak) and indications that tree growth can slow during years or seasons with prolonged inundation. The project aims to connect managed dam releases to real inundation patterns and measurable forest responses.
What operational change prompted this research?
In 2016, USACE changed operations at Kerr Reservoir from historic releases around 20,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to a Quasi-Run-of-River (QRR) approach that can reach roughly 35,000 cfs during flood stage. The change was made in large part to improve ecological conditions, including the health and sustainability of bottomland hardwood floodplain forests.
Where is the work focused geographically?
The work focuses on the lower Roanoke River and its floodplain corridor. The floodplain is described as very large (up to about 5 miles wide in places) and among the largest bottomland hardwood expanses on the US East Coast.
Is USACE asking for a full proposal right away?
No. USACE is first requesting Statements of Interest (SOIs) to screen for organizations and investigators with the right mix of technical skills, field capability, and familiarity with the Roanoke River system. The emphasis at this stage is on qualifications and readiness rather than a detailed technical proposal.
What is an SOI expected to demonstrate for this opportunity?
Based on the notice, the SOI is intended to help USACE identify teams that can combine modeling and remote sensing expertise with strong field capability and, where needed, lab capability. USACE indicated preference for respondents who can show access to field technicians with direct working knowledge of the Roanoke River, familiarity with local species and floodplain ecology, and established working relationships with key basin partners.
What type of award mechanism is anticipated?
The anticipated award mechanism is a cooperative agreement.
Under what authority is this work framed?
The work is framed as research and development under federal authority (10 U.S.C. 2358).
How much funding is expected for the initial work?
About $30,000 was expected to be available for the base period.
Is additional funding possible beyond the base period?
Yes. The posting notes the possibility of additional funding for follow-on work in later fiscal years if the project performs well and funds are available. The broader posting lists an award ceiling of $160,000, suggesting a phased effort that could grow through option periods.
How long is the period of performance?
The base period of performance is anticipated to be 12 months from the date of award, with up to four additional 12-month option periods, subject to funding availability.
How many awards does USACE expect to make?
The posting indicates an expectation of a single award.
What are the main technical objectives of the project?
The anticipated work is organized around four main technical objectives: (1) mapping and quantifying flood extent and distribution under reservoir releases in the 20,000 to 35,000 cfs range using remote sensing imagery paired with a partner's peer-reviewed model; (2) updating and strengthening vegetation analysis by integrating remote sensing, incorporating USACE HEC-RAS 2D hydraulic outputs, and collecting additional field data including tree-ring sampling (dendrochronology); (3) using the refined relationships as inputs to the USACE Ecosystem Function Model to evaluate basin-wide implications under QRR operations; and (4) developing practical recommendations for additional research or long-term monitoring to capture delayed or cumulative impacts.
What flow range is specifically mentioned for inundation mapping?
The opportunity specifically highlights reservoir releases in the 20,000 to 35,000 cfs range for mapping and quantifying the extent and distribution of flooding across the landscape.
What role does remote sensing play in this work?
Remote sensing imagery is expected to be used (paired with a partner's peer-reviewed model) to map and quantify spatially explicit inundation patterns. The intent is to translate changes in dam releases into on-the-ground floodplain flooding patterns that vegetation actually experiences.
What is HEC-RAS 2D and how is it used here?
HEC-RAS 2D is referenced as the Corps' detailed hydraulic modeling approach being developed for parts of the river, including areas where vegetation plots are located. The project expects to incorporate HEC-RAS 2D hydraulic outputs into the vegetation and inundation analysis to strengthen the linkage between flow operations, flooding patterns, and forest response.
What is the Ecosystem Function Model and why is it included?
The Ecosystem Function Model is the modeling framework USACE expects to use to apply plot-scale findings more broadly across the lower Roanoke River watershed. The project aims to feed refined inundation-growth relationships into this model so QRR operational impacts can be evaluated at a basin-wide scale, not only at monitored plots.
What kinds of field data are expected?
The description indicates the team will collect additional field data to refine relationships between inundation timing, depth, duration, and frequency and measures of tree growth and forest condition. Tree-ring sampling (dendrochronology) is explicitly mentioned as part of the field-based evidence.
Does the opportunity mention environmental DNA (eDNA)?
Yes. The notice flags eDNA sampling as potentially part of the work, with the practical constraint that sampling may depend on weather and event timing.
What does USACE imply about readiness and logistics for eDNA sampling?
USACE notes that eDNA sampling may be constrained by weather and event timing, implying that teams should be mobile, able to respond quickly, and capable of collecting samples and conducting or coordinating required laboratory analyses using baseline data and appropriate methods.
Why is the Roanoke River floodplain described as ecologically significant?
It is described as a very large bottomland hardwood floodplain corridor (up to about 5 miles wide in places) and among the largest bottomland hardwood expanses on the US East Coast, making it a high-value system for understanding how flow management affects forested floodplains.
What trends have been observed in existing vegetation monitoring?
Existing long-term vegetation monitoring by partners (including The Nature Conservancy, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and academic researchers) has revealed concerning trends such as declining numbers of some key species (Laurel Oak is given as an example). It also notes that even where trees survive, growth may slow in years or seasons with prolonged inundation.
Who are the key partners mentioned in connection with existing monitoring?
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and academic researchers are mentioned as partners involved in long-term vegetation monitoring.
What kind of team does USACE appear to be looking for?
USACE is looking for a qualified investigator or team with the right mix of technical skills (remote sensing, modeling, ecosystem analysis), field capability (including technicians with direct Roanoke River experience), familiarity with local species and floodplain ecology, and the ability to coordinate with basin partners. The notice also suggests value in having capacity for time-sensitive sampling and related lab work if eDNA is included.
What is the intended end product of the work?
Beyond scientific analysis, the project is expected to culminate in practical recommendations about what additional research or long-term monitoring is needed to capture delayed or cumulative impacts of QRR operations, recognizing that forest responses can unfold over many years. The overall intent is management-relevant insight into whether the QRR shift is producing healthier floodplain vegetation and what adjustments or follow-on work may be needed.
Is the goal purely academic research or management decision support?
The opportunity is described as applied ecohydrology and decision-support work. It emphasizes integrating models and field evidence to inform how dam release strategies affect bottomland hardwood floodplain forests and to guide future reservoir operations, not only to produce publications.
What is the submission deadline and time zone for the SOI?
SOIs were due by 5:00 PM Central Time on July 27, 2021.
Where was the opportunity posted and what was the response window?
The opportunity was posted to Grants.gov with a 30-day response window.
Who were the points of contact listed?
The points of contact included a grants specialist at the USACE Fort Worth District and the project manager supporting the effort.
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