Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G25AS00347

Opportunity Information: Apply for G25AS00347

This grant opportunity is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement being offered through the USGS Arizona Water Science Center to support research on riparian restoration in the Colorado River basin. The focus is on river corridor habitats in the arid western United States, which can support unusually dense and biologically rich riparian forests that are important for fish and wildlife, and highly valued for outdoor recreation like fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing. Many of these riparian ecosystems, including those on Department of the Interior lands, have been significantly degraded due to pressures such as prolonged drought, wildfire impacts, invasive species, and the way dams and river operations alter natural flow patterns. Because restoration funding and capacity are limited, the purpose of this opportunity is to help managers understand which restoration approaches provide the greatest ecological and practical benefit, and under what conditions they work best.

The project is aimed at evaluating restoration techniques, identifying which target habitats are most responsive to restoration, and measuring how bird populations respond over time in the lower Colorado River basin. Priority geographic areas explicitly include the Colorado River delta and the Bill Williams River. Rather than initiating an entirely new field monitoring program, the work is largely centered on rigorous analysis and synthesis of existing datasets. These datasets may include records of restoration actions, vegetation and land cover measurements, hydrologic data describing surface and groundwater conditions, and long term observations of dozens of bird species. A key theme throughout the opportunity is that riparian restoration success depends heavily on water availability and timing, so the ability to bring hydrologic expertise to the analysis is considered essential. In practical terms, this means connecting restoration outcomes not only to what was planted or removed, but also to river flows, groundwater levels, and broader watershed conditions that determine whether restored vegetation can persist and function.

The expected outputs are assessments that go beyond simple vegetation change and instead address functional outcomes. That can include the extent to which restored sites provide usable wildlife habitat (especially for birds), how bird communities shift in response to different restoration strategies, and how restoration influences other management goals such as recreation values or broader resource objectives. The intent is to deliver actionable findings that resource managers can use to prioritize future restoration investments, refine restoration designs, and anticipate wildlife outcomes under different hydrologic and management scenarios. The USGS emphasizes that this will be a collaborative effort under a cooperative agreement structure, meaning substantial involvement and scientific collaboration between USGS and the selected partner rather than a hands off grant.

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are already participating partners in the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESUs are formal partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with universities and other research partners to provide research, technical support, and education. The opportunity is discretionary, categorized under science and technology and other research and development, and is administered by the Geological Survey under CFDA 15.808. The funding opportunity number is G25AS00347, with an application closing date of 2025-09-21. The posted award ceiling is $380,000.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" 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 2025-08-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-21. (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 $380,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G25AS00347

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