Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) | G25AS00330

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the grant opportunity number for this funding?

The funding opportunity is identified as G25AS00330.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What type of award is being offered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which typically involves substantial involvement and coordination with the federal agency compared to a standard grant.

Is this a discretionary or mandatory funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity.

What is the main purpose of this cooperative agreement?

The core purpose is to generate practical, management-ready science on Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) survival, movement patterns, and habitat use in the Great Lakes, with the strongest emphasis on Lake Erie, to support eradication and control decision-making.

Which species is the focus of the research?

The research focuses on Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Which geographic area is emphasized?

The strongest emphasis is on Lake Erie, within the broader Great Lakes system, including connected tributaries and nearshore zones.

Why is this research considered urgent?

The opportunity describes Grass Carp as a serious ecological and economic threat. It notes that reproductively capable fish have been captured and eggs and larvae have been detected in Lake Erie tributaries, indicating active reproduction potential. It also cites socio-economic estimates suggesting losses could exceed 2 billion dollars over the next decade if Grass Carp become established.

How does this work connect to Great Lakes fishery governance and planning?

The work is tied to fishery management authorities operating under the Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries. Research needs were defined using a structured decision-making process and are intended to feed into an adaptive response strategy for managing and controlling Grass Carp in Lake Erie and connected tributaries.

Which coordinating group is referenced for the Lake Erie response strategy?

Coordination is described as happening through the Grass Carp Advisory Committee within the Lake Erie Committee.

Why is acoustic telemetry a major emphasis of this opportunity?

Managers have prioritized understanding where Grass Carp go, how they use nearshore and tributary habitats, and how they move through potential migration corridors. Acoustic telemetry is emphasized as a key method to generate that information for management decisions.

What existing infrastructure is this project intended to leverage?

The project is designed to leverage the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation System (GLATOS), especially where GLATOS coverage has expanded into nearshore zones and tributaries important for Grass Carp.

What kinds of management questions are telemetry results expected to inform?

Telemetry results are expected to inform high-value management questions including survival rates of tagged fish, identification of migration routes and choke points, habitat use across seasons, and detection of activity in or near spawning tributaries.

What is meant by producing "management-ready" science in this opportunity?

Based on the description, "management-ready" science means results delivered in a form that provides decision support to state and federal natural resource managers, helping target control actions and improve tools for reducing or eliminating Grass Carp.

What are the main components of the telemetry receiver array described in the scope?

The scope includes a tiered receiver array with three complementary components: (1) a basin-wide array focused on nearshore and tributary habitats, (2) dense receiver arrays in two spawning tributaries to enable two-dimensional positioning, and (3) an alert array that provides real-time notifications when Grass Carp are detected.

What is the basin-wide array intended to do?

It is intended to track broader movement and distribution patterns, focusing on nearshore and tributary habitats.

What is the purpose of dense receiver arrays in spawning tributaries?

They are intended to enable two-dimensional positioning for finer-scale understanding of fish behavior within critical riverine areas, such as use of specific reaches, staging areas, or potential spawning zones.

What is the alert array and how is it used?

The alert array is described as providing real-time notifications when Grass Carp are detected, which can support rapid response and operational decision-making.

Does the opportunity emphasize analysis and reporting, or only field deployment?

It emphasizes both. In addition to deploying and maintaining equipment, the award highlights fieldwork support and timely quantitative analysis of telemetry data, with an expectation that results will be delivered for decision support.

What CFDA listing is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized under CFDA 15.808.

How is the program area categorized?

It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum listed award amount is $499,999.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to applicants that are participating partners in the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program.

What is the CESU Program in the context of this opportunity?

The CESU Program is described as a partnership framework used to deliver research, technical assistance, and education through collaboration between federal agencies and affiliated institutions.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2025-07-10.

What is the closing date?

The original closing date is 2025-08-10.

What outcomes are intended from this project?

The intended outcome is decision-support science that helps managers better target control actions and improve tools to reduce or eliminate Grass Carp, using telemetry-informed understanding of survival, movement, and habitat use.