Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00198
This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00198) is a Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary cooperative agreement intended to support post-construction monitoring on the Mill River in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. The work focuses on documenting ecological conditions and flood resiliency outcomes after the full removal of two barriers, the Whittenton Dam and the West Britannia Dam, and associated upstream channel restoration. Although the listing notes eligibility as unrestricted, the announcement is explicitly a single-source financial assistance award to the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Ecological Restoration (MADER), and is described as being posted for notification purposes rather than as a competitive solicitation.
The core purpose is to measure whether the dam removals and channel restoration are delivering the expected benefits for aquatic connectivity, habitat function, and storm and flood resilience. Monitoring activities are designed to capture multiple dimensions of river recovery and performance. The project includes evaluating fish migration and broader fish community response, including assemblage and abundance, using video monitoring equipment. In addition, it calls for water quality assessment to track changes that can influence habitat suitability and ecosystem health, along with measurements of channel morphology and river flow to understand how the river is reshaping and how hydraulics are functioning after the dams are gone.
A major emphasis is on flood resiliency gains achieved through restoring a more natural river system. The opportunity describes resiliency and connectivity being supported by complete dam removal and by reconstructing upstream channel segments to appropriate physical dimensions and geometry, including width, depth, cross-sectional area, and slope. This is framed as re-establishing a stable channel form with the right energy balance so the river can carry water and transport sediment effectively across a range of flow conditions, rather than being artificially constrained by impoundments or undersized, unstable channel sections. By restoring this balance, the project aims to improve fish passage, reduce problematic sediment deposition or scour patterns, and enhance the river's ability to adjust naturally while remaining stable.
The ecological rationale centers on rebuilding ecosystem function through a naturalized channel that can dissipate flood energy and reconnect to floodplain processes. The opportunity highlights physical features such as riffles and pools, increased channel roughness, and access to floodplains as mechanisms that slow and spread high flows, reduce erosive energy, and provide habitat diversity. In practical terms, the monitoring is intended to verify whether these restored features are working as planned, whether the river is maintaining a stable form, and whether fish and other aquatic life are responding positively to improved passage and habitat conditions.
Funding for this effort is tied to Hurricane Sandy disaster recovery and resilience investments. The project is authorized under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 and specifically supported through the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-2). The announcement notes that the dam removal construction component had already been vetted and approved for funding by the Department of the Interior, and this award supports the monitoring and evaluation component that follows construction, ensuring the outcomes are documented and lessons can inform future resilience work.
Administratively, the opportunity anticipates a single award with an award ceiling of $170,000 and an expected award count of one. The posting lists an original closing date of June 15, 2017, and a creation date of April 19, 2017. The selected recipient, MADER, is identified as uniquely qualified to carry out the work, which is the stated justification for making the award as a single-source assistance agreement. The broader selection logic aligns with Hurricane Sandy resilience criteria: prioritizing projects that offer high return on investment by leveraging existing science and regional planning tools and by collaborating with state and local partners to increase the resilience of coastal habitats and infrastructure to future storms.Apply for F17AS00198
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "monitor and evaluate ecological and resiliency parameters on the Mill River in Taunton, Ma; Hurricane Sandy" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.677.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 19, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2017. (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 $170,000.00 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 Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F17AS00198.
Which federal agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What is the project location?
The work is located on the Mill River in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
What is the overall purpose of the award?
The purpose is to support post-construction monitoring and evaluation after the full removal of two dams (barriers) and associated upstream channel restoration, in order to document ecological conditions and flood resiliency outcomes.
Which dams are involved in this project?
The project focuses on outcomes following the full removal of the Whittenton Dam and the West Britannia Dam.
Is this funding for dam removal construction or for monitoring after construction?
This award supports the monitoring and evaluation component that follows construction. The announcement notes the construction component had already been vetted and approved for funding by the Department of the Interior.
What types of outcomes is the monitoring intended to measure?
The monitoring is intended to measure whether the dam removals and upstream channel restoration are delivering expected benefits for aquatic connectivity, habitat function, and storm and flood resilience.
How does the project define "aquatic connectivity" in this context?
Based on the announcement, aquatic connectivity is tied to complete dam removal and improved fish passage, allowing fish and other aquatic life to move through the river system more freely than when impoundments and barriers were present.
What specific ecological monitoring activities are described?
The opportunity describes monitoring fish migration and broader fish community response (including assemblage and abundance) using video monitoring equipment, along with water quality assessment and measurements of channel morphology and river flow.
How will fish migration and fish community response be evaluated?
The announcement states fish migration and fish community response (including assemblage and abundance) will be evaluated using video monitoring equipment.
What does "fish community response" include?
The opportunity specifies fish community response in terms of assemblage and abundance.
Why is water quality monitoring included?
Water quality monitoring is included to track changes that can influence habitat suitability and overall ecosystem health following dam removal and channel restoration.
Why are channel morphology and river flow measurements part of the work?
These measurements are intended to document how the river is reshaping after the dams are removed and to understand how hydraulics are functioning under the restored conditions.
What does the announcement say is a major emphasis of the project?
A major emphasis is documenting flood resiliency gains achieved by restoring a more natural river system through complete dam removal and upstream channel reconstruction.
What aspects of channel restoration are highlighted in the description?
The opportunity highlights reconstructing upstream channel segments to appropriate physical dimensions and geometry, including width, depth, cross-sectional area, and slope.
What is meant by restoring a "stable channel form" and "energy balance"?
The description frames the work as re-establishing a stable channel form with an appropriate energy balance so the river can carry water and transport sediment effectively across a range of flow conditions, rather than being constrained by impoundments or unstable, undersized channel sections.
How are sediment and erosion concerns addressed in the opportunity description?
The opportunity links restoring channel balance to reducing problematic sediment deposition or scour patterns and improving the river's ability to adjust naturally while remaining stable.
What river features are mentioned as helping with flood energy dissipation and habitat diversity?
The announcement mentions features such as riffles and pools, increased channel roughness, and access to floodplains as mechanisms that can slow and spread high flows, reduce erosive energy, and provide habitat diversity.
What is the monitoring intended to verify about the restored river features?
The monitoring is intended to verify whether restored features are working as planned, whether the river is maintaining a stable form, and whether fish and other aquatic life are responding positively to improved passage and habitat conditions.
How is this project connected to Hurricane Sandy?
Funding for the effort is tied to Hurricane Sandy disaster recovery and resilience investments.
What is the legal authority cited for this funding?
The project is authorized under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 and supported through the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-2).
What is the maximum (ceiling) funding amount for this award?
The award ceiling is $170,000.
How many awards does the opportunity anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipates a single award, with an expected award count of one.
What type of award instrument is described?
It is described as a discretionary cooperative agreement (financial assistance).
Is this a competitive grant that other applicants can apply for?
Although the listing notes eligibility as unrestricted, the announcement itself describes the award as a single-source financial assistance agreement to a specific recipient and states it is posted for notification purposes rather than as a competitive solicitation.
Who is the intended recipient of the single-source award?
The intended recipient is the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Ecological Restoration (MADER).
Why is the award being made as a single-source agreement?
The announcement states MADER is uniquely qualified to carry out the work, which is given as the justification for making the award as a single-source assistance agreement.
What is the original closing date listed for the opportunity?
The posting lists an original closing date of June 15, 2017.
When was the opportunity created (posted)?
The creation date listed is April 19, 2017.
How does the opportunity describe the broader selection logic for Hurricane Sandy resilience investments?
It aligns with criteria that prioritize projects offering a high return on investment by leveraging existing science and regional planning tools and collaborating with state and local partners to increase resilience of coastal habitats and infrastructure to future storms.
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