Comprehensive Evaluation of Recommended Actions to Limit Fishery Escapement from Reservoirs | W81EWF 21 SOI 0004

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 21 SOI 0004

The grant opportunity, titled Comprehensive Evaluation of Recommended Actions to Limit Fishery Escapement from Reservoirs (Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 21 SOI 0004), is a Department of Defense program administered through the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. It supports science and technology research under a cooperative agreement structure, with the intent of producing practical, decision-ready findings for reservoir fishery management. The project targets a common management problem in reservoirs: fish leaving the reservoir through spillways or related outflow structures (escapement), which can reduce desirable sportfish populations and undermine stocking and management investments. The work is focused on two Iowa reservoirs, Big Creek and Brushy Creek, and it is designed to evaluate how physical barriers near spillways influence escapement and broader population outcomes.

A central part of the study is to measure how barriers affect fish population dynamics and escapement rates. The project calls for assessing changes and differences in abundance, recruitment (the addition of young fish into the population), size structure, growth, and fish condition. To do this, the investigator is expected to analyze capture-recapture datasets, which are commonly used to estimate population size and survival by marking fish, releasing them, and tracking subsequent recaptures. In parallel, the study incorporates angler harvest information, recognizing that fishing pressure and harvest can interact with escapement and survival. Combined, these data streams are meant to produce estimates of escapement rates and survival that can be compared across reservoirs and barrier conditions.

The opportunity also emphasizes understanding what drives escapement beyond the barrier itself, especially environmental conditions. The project requires continuous environmental monitoring using data loggers, with routine maintenance and data downloads. Variables specifically mentioned include water level, flow rates, temperature, and time, reflecting the likelihood that spill events, discharge patterns, seasonal temperature shifts, and timing of high-flow conditions all influence when and how fish approach or pass barriers. In addition to broad environmental metrics, the study asks whether micro-habitat differences immediately upstream of each barrier (for example, localized depth, velocity, cover, substrate, or turbulence patterns) may affect fish behavior and escapement propensity. That means the work is not limited to counting escapees; it is also aimed at identifying the mechanisms that make escapement more or less likely in specific settings.

To directly observe fish behavior and movement in relation to barriers, the project includes a telemetry component. A subset of adult Walleye and Muskellunge will be implanted with transmitters and released into both Big Creek and Brushy Creek. Tracking these tagged fish over time is intended to show how much time they spend in different parts of each reservoir, with particular attention to use of areas near spillways and barriers. This movement information is expected to clarify behavioral pathways leading to escapement, such as whether fish routinely stage near barriers, only approach during certain flow regimes, or show species-specific and season-specific patterns. The focus on Walleye and Muskellunge reflects their value as sportfish and the management importance of retaining adult fish in the reservoir.

Another major deliverable is a controlled evaluation of barrier designs, specifically how different opening sizes affect escapement under varying water levels. The funding notice calls for a laboratory experiment that simulates reservoir spillways equipped with barriers having different gap widths (listed as 1, 2, and 3 inches). This experimental piece is meant to translate field observations into design guidance by isolating how opening size interacts with hydraulic conditions and fish passage potential. The expected output is a clear discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each configuration, along with practical design recommendations that can inform future barrier retrofits or new installations. In other words, the project is structured to move from measurement to engineering-relevant guidance.

Beyond the technical research, the grant requires active coordination with management agencies to ensure the results are usable. The investigator will meet throughout the study with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a comprehensive fisheries management plan informed by study findings. Meetings are expected to occur periodically as needed, reflecting a collaborative approach where results can be interpreted and integrated into management decisions as the project progresses rather than only at the end. This planning component signals that the final outcome is intended to be more than a research report; it should be a management roadmap grounded in evidence about escapement, barrier performance, environmental drivers, and fish movement.

Reporting is also a defined requirement. The recipient is expected to produce annual progress reports documenting preliminary results and a final report summarizing methods, analyses, findings, and recommendations. These reports will be submitted to stakeholders for review and comment, which implies an iterative process where agency partners can provide feedback, request clarifications, and help shape how conclusions are communicated for implementation.

In terms of basic funding details, the opportunity was released on December 9, 2020, with an original closing date of February 8, 2021. It anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $160,000. The assistance listing (CFDA) associated with the opportunity is 12.630, and eligibility was listed broadly as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the full eligibility text. Overall, the project is framed as applied research: quantify escapement and population impacts in two real reservoirs, identify environmental and habitat factors that influence escapement, track key sportfish movements to understand behavior near barriers, test barrier opening designs in a controlled setting, and convert all of that into actionable management and engineering recommendations shared through formal reports and a jointly developed fisheries management plan.

• The Department of Defense, Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Comprehensive Evaluation of Recommended Actions to Limit Fishery Escapement from Reservoirs" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 09, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 08, 2021. (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 $160,000.00 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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