Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 19 FA 0041
The "Biological Controls of Coastal Marsh Dynamics" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USGS 19 FA 0041) is a discretionary U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) grant offered through the Department of the Interior. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the USGS expects to have substantial involvement in the project as it is carried out, rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The program sits within the natural resources funding category and is associated with CFDA number 15.808, reflecting its alignment with USGS science and resource management priorities.
The focus of the opportunity is coastal marsh resilience under changing environmental conditions, especially the challenge of rising relative sea level. USGS describes an ongoing, long-term research effort aimed at understanding whether and how coastal marshes can adapt to sea-level rise and other stressors. The work emphasizes the biological controls that influence marsh dynamics, which can include how vegetation, soil-building processes, and ecological interactions affect marsh elevation gain, sediment trapping, organic matter accumulation, and overall stability. The underlying scientific question is whether marshes can "keep pace" with sea-level rise, meaning they can build or maintain elevation quickly enough to avoid drowning, converting to open water, or otherwise degrading.
USGS indicates that the research approach is intentionally multi-pronged: it combines field experimental studies (manipulative tests in real marsh environments), field observational studies (measurements and monitoring that capture natural variability and long-term trends), and model development and application. In practical terms, this points to projects that not only collect data in marshes but also translate those findings into predictive or scenario-based models that can be used to evaluate marsh trajectories under different rates of sea-level rise and varying stressors. The mention of both "development" and "application" suggests a preference for efforts that either enhance existing modeling frameworks or directly use models to interpret field results and inform broader understanding.
A key aspect of this particular funding call is that it builds on an established, long-running USGS effort. Rather than starting from scratch, the opportunity is meant to leverage existing field sites and prior investments in data collection and infrastructure. At the same time, USGS highlights geographic expansion, implying that successful work may extend methods, monitoring, or comparative analyses to additional marsh locations beyond the core long-term sites. This kind of expansion can help test whether insights from well-studied marshes hold true across different regions, sediment regimes, plant communities, tidal ranges, or human impact gradients.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on February 5, 2019, with an original closing date of February 12, 2019, indicating a short application window at the time it was posted. The award ceiling listed is $48,000, and USGS expected to make a single award. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with further clarification typically provided in the full announcement under an eligibility section, meaning it may not be limited strictly to state or local governments and could include universities, nonprofits, or other qualified organizations depending on the detailed terms.
Overall, this funding opportunity supports a targeted piece of a larger USGS coastal marsh research portfolio, with an emphasis on biologically driven processes that govern marsh elevation and persistence in the face of sea-level rise. It seeks work that connects field-based evidence with modeling to improve understanding and prediction of marsh responses, while also strengthening and extending an existing network of research sites and studies.Apply for USGS 19 FA 0041
- The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biological Controls of Coastal Marsh Dynamics" 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 Feb 05, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 12, 2019. (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 $48,000.00 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).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Biological Controls of Coastal Marsh Dynamics.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USGS 19 FA 0041.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which is part of the Department of the Interior.
What type of award is this (grant, contract, or cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
As described, a cooperative agreement typically means USGS expects to have substantial involvement in the project as it is carried out, rather than only providing funding and stepping back.
What funding category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity sits within the natural resources funding category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.808, reflecting alignment with USGS science and resource management priorities.
What is the main scientific focus of the opportunity?
The focus is on coastal marsh resilience under changing environmental conditions, especially the challenge of rising relative sea level.
What overarching research question is USGS trying to answer through this funding?
The work is aimed at understanding whether and how coastal marshes can adapt to sea-level rise and other stressors, and specifically whether marshes can keep pace with sea-level rise by building or maintaining elevation fast enough to avoid drowning or converting to open water.
What does "keep pace with sea-level rise" mean in this context?
It refers to whether marshes can build or maintain elevation quickly enough through processes like sediment trapping and organic matter accumulation to avoid degradation (such as drowning, conversion to open water, or loss of marsh stability) as sea level rises.
What are "biological controls" in the context of coastal marsh dynamics?
Biological controls are biologically driven processes and interactions that influence marsh behavior and persistence, including how vegetation, soil-building processes, and ecological interactions affect elevation gain, sediment trapping, organic matter accumulation, and overall marsh stability.
What kinds of research approaches does USGS emphasize for this opportunity?
USGS describes an intentionally multi-pronged approach that combines: field experimental studies (manipulative tests in real marsh environments), field observational studies (measurements and monitoring capturing natural variability and long-term trends), and model development and application.
What is meant by field experimental studies for marsh research?
Field experimental studies are described as manipulative tests in real marsh environments, meaning projects may alter or control specific conditions in marsh settings to test how marsh processes respond.
What is meant by field observational studies for marsh research?
Field observational studies refer to measurements and monitoring designed to capture natural variability and long-term trends in marsh conditions and dynamics.
How important is modeling to this opportunity?
Modeling is a central element. The opportunity highlights both model development and model application, indicating interest in projects that enhance modeling frameworks and/or use models to interpret field results and evaluate marsh trajectories under different scenarios.
What kinds of model uses are implied by the opportunity description?
The description points to models used for predictive and scenario-based evaluation, such as exploring marsh trajectories under different rates of sea-level rise and varying stressors.
Is this opportunity intended for brand-new marsh study sites, or does it build on existing work?
The call is described as building on an established, long-running USGS effort and is intended to leverage existing field sites and prior investments in data collection and infrastructure.
Does the opportunity allow or encourage geographic expansion beyond existing sites?
Yes. USGS highlights geographic expansion, suggesting interest in extending methods, monitoring, or comparative analyses to additional marsh locations beyond the core long-term sites.
Why does USGS emphasize geographic expansion?
Expanding to more locations can help test whether findings from well-studied marshes hold across different contexts, such as different regions, sediment regimes, plant communities, tidal ranges, or human impact gradients.
How many awards did USGS expect to make?
USGS expected to make a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $48,000.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on February 5, 2019.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed is February 12, 2019.
How long was the application window based on the posted dates?
Based on the creation date (February 5, 2019) and the original closing date (February 12, 2019), the application window was very short (about one week).
Who is eligible to apply, based on the information provided?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others". The description notes that additional clarification would typically appear in the full announcement eligibility section, and that eligibility may not be limited strictly to government applicants and could include entities such as universities, nonprofits, or other qualified organizations depending on the detailed terms.
Is this opportunity part of a larger USGS research program?
Yes. It is described as supporting a targeted piece of a larger USGS coastal marsh research portfolio and leveraging an ongoing, long-term research effort.
What outcomes is USGS trying to support through this funding?
The opportunity supports work that improves understanding and prediction of marsh responses to sea-level rise and other stressors by connecting field-based evidence with modeling, while also strengthening and extending an existing network of research sites and studies.
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