Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program: Zooplankton, Mysis, and Benthic Components

Background
The Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program (GLBMP) was established in 1983 to assess and investigate the ecological health of the Great Lakes. The program benefits federal, state, and tribal fisheries and water quality managers by focusing on whole-lake responses to changes in loads of anthropogenic substances, and more recently, aquatic invasive species. Zooplankton has been an integral part of the program since its inception.

Benthic sampling was added to the program in 1997.

Mysis were added to the program in 2006.

Grant Details
The Request for Applications (RFA) solicits applications from eligible entities for a cooperative agreement to be awarded pursuant to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (“GLRI” or “Initiative”) Action Plan III. Up to $6,750,000 may be awarded under this RFA over approximately five years, consisting of incremental funding of about $1,350,000 per year. The project activities must support general goals of the program such as the continued documentation of the status and trends of the ecological health of the open waters of the Great Lakes based on zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic fauna analysis; determination of the impacts of changing lower food web communities on fisheries; special studies for the pelagic lower food web coincident with the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) five-year rotation; and whole-lake benthic fauna assessment coincident with the CSMI five-year rotation.

Eligibility Requirements
Governmental entities, including state agencies, interstate agencies, Indian tribes, local governments, institutions of higher learning (i.e., colleges and universities), and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for funding under this RFA.

Period of Performance
The project period for the funding opportunity is approximately five years. Applications should specify a start date on or around January 17, 2022 and should specify an end date that will allow for the collection, processing, and analysis of the 2022-2026 field seasons.

Grant Value
$6,750,000 may be awarded for one cooperative agreement over approximately five years, consisting of incremental funding of about $1,350,000 per year.