Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G26AS00054

Opportunity Information: Apply for G26AS00054

This funding opportunity (G26AS00054) is a US Geological Survey cooperative agreement intended for an affiliated partner within the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The project focuses on riparian vegetation along the Colorado River corridor between Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Mead, often referred to as the Colorado River ecosystem (CRe). The main goal is to improve scientific understanding of how dam operations, especially hydropower-driven daily flow fluctuations, shape riparian plant communities and the interactions among plant species. USGS is looking for a partner who can combine controlled physiological experiments with a strong synthesis and modeling effort that draws on extensive existing monitoring datasets.

The scientific need behind the project is that, even though there are large and long-running vegetation monitoring datasets for this river corridor (including about a decade of ground-based riparian vegetation monitoring in Arizona and additional broad-scale regional datasets), the cause-and-effect links between hydropower flow patterns and plant community outcomes remain poorly resolved. In the real river, daily stage changes from hydropower operations occur alongside other important flow conditions, like extended low-flow periods and episodic higher flows, which makes it hard to tease out what daily fluctuations alone are doing to plants based purely on field observations. On top of that, the monitoring record suggests that certain plant species can substantially influence the surrounding plant community, meaning species interactions (competition, facilitation, and other neighborhood effects) may be masking or altering the vegetation response to dam operations. Because these biological interactions have not been adequately accounted for in prior work, managers have an incomplete picture of how changes in dam operations could be used to improve riparian vegetation conditions.

The opportunity is built around two connected lines of research. First, the recipient will conduct new riparian plant physiological experiments designed to directly test how different species respond to daily fluctuating flows characteristic of hydropower operations. These experiments are meant to clarify which species tend to benefit, which are harmed, and what physiological mechanisms or stress responses might explain those patterns. Second, the recipient will perform a synthesis and analysis of existing datasets, using modeling approaches to evaluate how plant-plant interactions play out along a regulated river and how those interactions are mediated by flow conditions. The expectation is that the project will integrate insights from experiments with insights from historical monitoring and regional datasets, rather than relying on one data source alone.

Two core research questions define the work. The first asks which riparian plant species benefit or suffer under daily fluctuations created by hydropower dam operations. The second asks how riparian plant species interact with one another along this regulated river corridor, and how those interactions change depending on flow conditions. Together, these questions are meant to produce more actionable understanding of vegetation dynamics that can inform how dam operations might be adjusted or leveraged to meet ecological or resource-condition objectives, particularly where vegetation outcomes are influenced both by hydrology and by species interactions.

From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary financial assistance award issued as a cooperative agreement under the CESU Program, which emphasizes collaboration among partners to provide research, technical assistance, and education. Only eligible applicants that are participating partners of the Colorado Plateau CESU can apply. USGS expects to make one award, with an award ceiling of $400,000. The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA 15.808). The original closing date listed for applications is January 13, 2026.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the 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 2025-12-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-01-13. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G26AS00054

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