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.Apply for W81EWF 21 SOI 0004
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Comprehensive Evaluation of Recommended Actions to Limit Fishery Escapement from Reservoirs.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W81EWF 21 SOI 0004.
Which federal department sponsors this opportunity?
This is a Department of Defense program.
Which organization administers the program?
The opportunity is administered through the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
What type of award instrument is expected?
The work is supported under a cooperative agreement structure.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project supports science and technology research intended to produce practical, decision-ready findings for reservoir fishery management, focused specifically on limiting fishery escapement through spillways and related outflow structures.
What management problem is the study trying to address?
The project targets fish escapement from reservoirs, meaning fish leaving the reservoir through spillways or other outflow structures. Escapement can reduce desirable sportfish populations and undermine stocking and other management investments.
Which reservoirs are included in the study?
The work is focused on two Iowa reservoirs: Big Creek and Brushy Creek.
What is being evaluated at these reservoirs?
The study evaluates how physical barriers near spillways influence fish escapement and broader population outcomes, including whether and how barrier conditions change escapement rates and fish population dynamics.
What fish population metrics are expected to be assessed?
The opportunity calls for assessing changes and differences in:
- Abundance
- Recruitment (addition of young fish into the population)
- Size structure
- Growth
- Fish condition
What kinds of datasets and analyses are expected?
The investigator is expected to analyze capture-recapture datasets (marking fish, releasing them, and using later recaptures to estimate population size and survival). The study also incorporates angler harvest information to account for fishing pressure and harvest as factors interacting with escapement and survival.
How will escapement rates be estimated?
Escapement rates are intended to be estimated by combining information from capture-recapture analyses and angler harvest data, producing estimates of both escapement and survival that can be compared across reservoirs and barrier conditions.
Does the project look at environmental drivers of escapement?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes understanding what drives escapement beyond the barrier itself, with a requirement for continuous environmental monitoring using data loggers.
Which environmental variables are specifically mentioned for monitoring?
The notice specifically mentions monitoring:
- Water level
- Flow rates
- Temperature
- Time (timing of conditions and events)
What field equipment responsibilities are included?
The project requires use of environmental data loggers and includes routine responsibilities such as maintenance and data downloads to support continuous monitoring.
Does the study consider habitat near the barriers?
Yes. The project asks whether micro-habitat differences immediately upstream of each barrier may affect fish behavior and the likelihood of escapement. Examples referenced include localized conditions such as depth, velocity, cover, substrate, and turbulence patterns.
Is fish movement behavior directly studied?
Yes. The opportunity includes a telemetry component intended to directly observe fish behavior and movement in relation to spillways and barriers.
Which species are included in the telemetry component?
A subset of adult Walleye and Muskellunge will be implanted with transmitters and released into both Big Creek and Brushy Creek.
What is the telemetry work expected to reveal?
Tracking tagged fish over time is intended to show how fish use different parts of each reservoir, especially areas near spillways and barriers, and to clarify behavioral pathways that lead to escapement (for example, whether fish stage near barriers, approach only during certain flow regimes, or exhibit species- and season-specific patterns).
Is there a laboratory or controlled experiment requirement?
Yes. The funding notice calls for a laboratory experiment simulating reservoir spillways equipped with barriers having different gap widths to evaluate escapement potential under varying water levels.
What barrier opening sizes are specifically identified for testing?
The laboratory experiment is expected to evaluate barrier gap widths of 1 inch, 2 inches, and 3 inches.
What is the purpose of testing different barrier opening sizes?
The intent is to isolate how opening size interacts with hydraulic conditions and fish passage potential, producing design guidance that discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each configuration and provides practical recommendations for future barrier retrofits or new installations.
What coordination with agencies is required?
The investigator is expected to coordinate throughout the study with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
What is the purpose of meeting with Iowa DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?
Meetings are intended to support development of a comprehensive fisheries management plan informed by the study findings, with periodic discussions as needed so results can be interpreted and integrated into management decisions during the project (not only at the end).
What reporting deliverables are required?
The recipient is expected to produce:
- Annual progress reports documenting preliminary results
- A final report summarizing methods, analyses, findings, and recommendations
Who reviews the reports?
Reports will be submitted to stakeholders for review and comment, implying an iterative process where agency partners can provide feedback and help shape how conclusions are communicated for implementation.
When was this opportunity released?
The opportunity was released on December 9, 2020.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was February 8, 2021.
How many awards were anticipated?
The notice anticipated a single award.
What was the award ceiling?
The award ceiling was $160,000.
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?
The associated assistance listing (CFDA) is 12.630.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the information provided?
Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others", with further clarification referenced in the full eligibility text (not provided here).
What makes this project "applied" rather than purely academic?
The project is framed as applied research because it combines real-reservoir field evaluation (escapement and population impacts), environmental and habitat drivers, fish movement tracking, and controlled barrier design testing, with the explicit goal of producing actionable management and engineering recommendations and a jointly developed fisheries management plan.
What are the main expected outputs of the overall effort?
Based on the description, the main outputs include estimates of escapement and survival across reservoirs and barrier conditions, analysis of environmental and micro-habitat influences, telemetry-based movement insights for Walleye and Muskellunge, laboratory-based barrier opening guidance (1, 2, and 3 inch gaps), annual progress reporting, a final report with recommendations, and a comprehensive management plan developed in collaboration with Iowa DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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