Opportunity Information: Apply for G17AS00130
This funding opportunity comes from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically the Western Ecological Research Center, and it is being offered as a cooperative agreement to a single eligible member organization within the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. The goal is to support applied research that helps USGS and partners better understand how well the Suisun Marsh in California can support wintering waterfowl, using a modern, food-based carrying capacity approach. The total potential award amount is up to $95,000, with one award expected. The opportunity was posted on August 22, 2017, with an original application deadline of September 15, 2017, and it falls under the Science and Technology/Research and Development activity category (CFDA 15.808).
The project itself is titled "Estimating the carrying capacity of the Suisun Marsh for non-breeding waterfowl: a contemporary assessment of diets, food availability and body condition in managed and tidal wetlands." In practical terms, the work is meant to quantify whether the marsh is producing enough usable food, in the right places and at the right times, to sustain desired populations of ducks and other waterfowl through the non-breeding season. Rather than relying on older assumptions or indirect indicators, the study emphasizes contemporary field-based measurements of what birds are actually eating, how much food is available on the landscape, and what that means for bird condition during fall and winter.
Suisun Marsh is highlighted as a high-value habitat because it is one of the largest contiguous brackish marshes in the western United States and includes 12 of California's remaining natural wetlands. It plays an outsized role during early winter and is described as currently supporting more than 60,000 wintering waterfowl, in addition to substantial numbers of shorebirds, seabirds, wading birds, and terrestrial birds. The grant description notes that dabbling ducks make up most of the waterfowl wintering in the marsh, and these birds rely heavily on managed wetlands associated with duck hunting clubs and state wildlife areas. Those managed wetlands are often operated with the explicit intention of producing food resources for waterfowl, especially seed-producing plants that provide dense energy for dabbling ducks.
A key management challenge motivating the study is that the marsh's brackish conditions make it difficult to consistently manage for the most productive plant species, many of which are non-native but valued because they can produce abundant, energy-rich seeds. As a result, managers and agencies need better, up-to-date information on the composition and availability of winter food resources across different wetland types, including both managed wetlands and tidal wetlands. By generating a defensible estimate of food-based carrying capacity, the study is intended to provide a baseline against which future changes can be evaluated.
The opportunity also makes clear why this baseline matters: Suisun Marsh is likely to experience pressures and shifts from factors such as tidal restoration projects, sea level rise, drought, and changes in water delivery or habitat management. Any of these could alter plant communities, food production, and accessibility of forage to waterfowl. The proposed work is therefore positioned not just as a snapshot of current conditions, but as decision-support science that can help predict and measure how the marsh's ability to support target non-breeding waterfowl populations may change under different environmental and management scenarios.Apply for G17AS00130
- The Department of the Interior, 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 Aug 22, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 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 $95,000.00 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)
Who is offering this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically the Western Ecological Research Center.
What type of award is this?
The funding is being offered as a cooperative agreement.
How many awards are expected?
One award is expected under this opportunity.
What is the maximum potential award amount?
The total potential award amount is up to $95,000.
Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is limited to a single eligible member organization within the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network.
What is the official project title?
"Estimating the carrying capacity of the Suisun Marsh for non-breeding waterfowl: a contemporary assessment of diets, food availability and body condition in managed and tidal wetlands."
What is the main goal of the project?
The goal is to support applied research that helps USGS and partners better understand how well Suisun Marsh (California) can support wintering (non-breeding season) waterfowl using a modern, food-based carrying capacity approach.
What does "food-based carrying capacity" mean in this context?
In this opportunity, a food-based carrying capacity approach focuses on whether the marsh produces enough usable food, in the right places and at the right times, to sustain desired populations of ducks and other waterfowl through fall and winter. It emphasizes direct, contemporary field-based measurements rather than older assumptions or indirect indicators.
What kinds of measurements or information does the study emphasize?
The study emphasizes contemporary field-based measurements of (1) what birds are actually eating (diets), (2) how much food is available on the landscape (food availability), and (3) what that implies for bird health during fall and winter (body condition).
Which habitats within Suisun Marsh are included?
The work is intended to assess food resources across different wetland types, including both managed wetlands and tidal wetlands.
Why is Suisun Marsh important for waterfowl?
Suisun Marsh is described as a high-value habitat because it is one of the largest contiguous brackish marshes in the western United States, includes 12 of California's remaining natural wetlands, and plays an outsized role during early winter. It is described as currently supporting more than 60,000 wintering waterfowl.
What kinds of birds does Suisun Marsh support besides waterfowl?
In addition to wintering waterfowl, the marsh is described as supporting substantial numbers of shorebirds, seabirds, wading birds, and terrestrial birds.
Which waterfowl group is highlighted as making up most of the wintering waterfowl?
Dabbling ducks are described as making up most of the waterfowl wintering in the marsh.
What habitats do dabbling ducks rely on in Suisun Marsh, according to the description?
The description notes that dabbling ducks rely heavily on managed wetlands associated with duck hunting clubs and state wildlife areas.
How are managed wetlands typically operated in relation to waterfowl?
Managed wetlands are often operated with the explicit intention of producing food resources for waterfowl, especially seed-producing plants that provide dense energy for dabbling ducks.
What management challenge is motivating this research?
A key challenge is that the marsh's brackish conditions make it difficult to consistently manage for the most productive plant species. Many of these productive species are non-native but are valued because they can produce abundant, energy-rich seeds.
Why does the opportunity stress "up-to-date" information?
It calls for up-to-date information because managers and agencies need current data on the composition and availability of winter food resources across wetland types, and the approach is meant to replace reliance on older assumptions or indirect indicators.
What is the intended outcome or deliverable from the research?
The study is intended to generate a defensible estimate of food-based carrying capacity for non-breeding waterfowl in Suisun Marsh and to provide a baseline against which future changes can be evaluated.
Why is establishing a baseline considered important?
The baseline is positioned as important because Suisun Marsh may experience pressures and shifts from tidal restoration projects, sea level rise, drought, and changes in water delivery or habitat management. These factors could alter plant communities, food production, and access to forage for waterfowl.
How is this project expected to support decision-making?
The proposed work is framed as decision-support science that can help predict and measure how the marsh's ability to support target non-breeding waterfowl populations may change under different environmental and management scenarios.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 22, 2017.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was September 15, 2017.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is Science and Technology/Research and Development.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.808.
What season and timeframe does the project focus on for waterfowl support?
The project focuses on the non-breeding season, specifically emphasizing fall and winter conditions for wintering waterfowl.
What is meant by "usable food" in the project description?
As described, "usable food" refers to food that is actually available to waterfowl on the landscape in a way that is accessible in the right places and at the right times during the non-breeding season, and that can sustain desired bird populations.
What are the main drivers of potential change in Suisun Marsh identified in the opportunity?
The opportunity identifies tidal restoration projects, sea level rise, drought, and changes in water delivery or habitat management as factors that could shift plant communities, food production, and the accessibility of forage to waterfowl.
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