Biological Controls of Coastal Marsh Dynamics | USGS 19 FA 0041

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.

• 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).

Apply for USGS 19 FA 0041

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