Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU | G18AS00104

Opportunity Information: Apply for G18AS00104

This funding opportunity comes from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically its Western Ecological Research Center, under the Department of the Interior. It is offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network and is tied to the Californian CESU. The intent is to support a focused research project that improves scientific understanding of waterbird ecology along the Pacific Flyway, with an emphasis on how major environmental drivers are reshaping habitats and bird populations over time.

The project title, "Waterbird Ecology in the Pacific Flyway: Understanding Implications of Restoration, Climate and Land Use Change," signals that the work is expected to connect ecological research with real-world management questions. In practical terms, the study would likely examine how wetland restoration projects, climate-related shifts (such as drought patterns, temperature changes, sea level rise, and altered hydrology), and changing land uses (including agriculture, urban growth, and water management decisions) affect waterbird distribution, abundance, behavior, habitat selection, and overall ecological needs. Because the Pacific Flyway spans a large migratory corridor, the research emphasis is commonly on how conditions at key stopover, wintering, and breeding sites influence survival and migration success, and how coordinated habitat management might reduce risks to waterbird populations.

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. That usually means USGS anticipates substantial involvement in the project beyond simply providing funding, such as participating in study design discussions, coordinating access to data or field sites, helping align methods with agency priorities, or collaborating on interpretation and delivery of results. The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development, which indicates the primary output is expected to be research products, such as analyses, datasets, decision-support tools, management recommendations, and possibly peer-reviewed publications or technical reports that directly inform conservation and restoration planning.

Eligibility is limited to a member of the CESU Program, described in the notice as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." In effect, this is a targeted opportunity intended for the CESU partner network rather than open competition across all institutions. CESUs are designed to link federal agencies with universities and other research partners to deliver applied science for resource management, so the applicant would be one qualifying CESU member institution or organization positioned to carry out the work in collaboration with USGS.

The opportunity number is G18AS00104. It was created on July 31, 2018, with an original application closing date of August 14, 2018, reflecting a relatively short submission window typical of some targeted cooperative agreement solicitations. The funding ceiling is $18,083, and USGS anticipated making one award. That budget level suggests a small, discrete scope of work, such as a pilot study, a focused analysis of existing monitoring data, a targeted field effort in a limited area or season, or a synthesis that supports planning and prioritization for restoration and habitat management.

The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 15.808, which corresponds to USGS research and data activities. Overall, the solicitation is a narrowly defined, single-award cooperative agreement meant to advance applied research on Pacific Flyway waterbirds, especially where restoration investments and accelerating climate and land-use changes create uncertainty for conservation outcomes and management decisions.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU" 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 Jul 31, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 14, 2018. (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 $18,083.00 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 G18AS00104

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