Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

Background
The USGS Western Ecological Research Center is offering a Cooperative Agreement funding opportunity to a member university of the Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) program. The focus is on the analysis and writing for coastal wetland and seagrass ecology relevant to natural resource management and national security for Pacific Coast wetlands and Department of Defense (DoD) installations in the Mariana Archipelago, which includes Guam and Tinian. This initiative aims to support land management by states, DOI, and DoD through research that informs best practices for wetland and seagrass management and restoration.

Grant Details
The project involves several key research objectives:

1) Create planning documents for coastal ecosystems (marsh, mangroves, and seagrass), focusing on environmental and management conditions affecting restoration potential.

2) Survey ecosystems to assess health and identify restoration opportunities.

3) Investigate how various factors such as elevation, vegetation, topography, soil biogeochemistry, and watershed characteristics influence responses to disturbances and restoration efforts.

4) Synthesize analysis and collected data into reports and publications. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement with an anticipated total funding of $495,000 over three years.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

Period of Performance
The project is anticipated to span three years with one base year followed by two additional budget years.

Grant Value
$495,000 total estimated funding; $300,000 available for Budget Year 1.

Place of Performance
The grant will be performed in the Pacific Region, specifically in the Mariana Archipelago including Guam and Tinian.