Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G24AS00370

Opportunity Information: Apply for G24AS00370

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC), is offering a discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G24AS00370) in the form of a cooperative agreement to support applied research on land reclamation in arid landscapes. The work is aimed at improving how agencies and land managers address and evaluate recovery after surface disturbance, especially disturbance associated with oil and gas development and other land-altering activities common across dryland systems of the Colorado Plateau and similar regions.

The project focus is organized around three connected research needs. First, USGS is seeking research that clarifies the biotic and abiotic constraints that limit successful reclamation, meaning the living and non-living factors that can prevent disturbed sites from returning to a stable, functioning condition. In arid environments, reclamation often hinges on variables like soil condition, moisture availability, temperature extremes, erosion risk, invasive species pressure, seed availability, and the ability of native plants and soil biota to re-establish. This topic area is essentially about identifying what is realistically limiting recovery and under what site conditions certain approaches fail or succeed.

Second, the opportunity calls for development of workflows to assess reclamation effectiveness. In practical terms, this points to creating consistent methods that can be used to measure whether reclamation actions are working, and to do so in a way that is repeatable across projects and sites. Assessment workflows typically involve defining measurable indicators, establishing monitoring designs, standardizing field and/or remote sensing data collection, and creating decision pathways that translate monitoring results into conclusions about progress and outcomes. The emphasis is on building an approach that managers can actually apply to evaluate performance over time, rather than relying on ad hoc or inconsistent evaluation practices.

Third, USGS is looking for research that identifies management practices most likely to promote reclamation success. This can include testing or synthesizing practices related to soil preparation, erosion control, seeding strategies, plant materials selection, invasive species management, grazing or traffic controls, timing of treatments relative to precipitation patterns, and other implementation details that can make or break outcomes in drylands. The underlying intent is to move beyond general recommendations and toward evidence-based guidance that helps managers choose practices that are better matched to site limitations and realistic ecological trajectories.

This opportunity is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, which is designed to link federal agencies with partner institutions to provide research, technical assistance, and education. Because it is a CESU-based award, eligibility is restricted: applicants must be participating partners of the Colorado Plateau CESU. That means this is not an open competition to all organizations; it is targeted to the established CESU network for that region.

From an administrative perspective, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. That distinction usually indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project, such as collaboration on study design, data standards, reporting, coordination with land management needs, or integration with ongoing USGS efforts. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA (now commonly referenced under Assistance Listing) number provided is 15.808. The agency listed is the Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior. The opportunity was created on 2024-05-21, with an original closing date of 2024-06-21. The stated award ceiling is $499,999.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" 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 2024-05-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-21. (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 $499,999.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G24AS00370

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