Assessment of Asian carp and native fish movement and habitat use in the upper Illinois River watershed to inform Asian carp management | USGS 18 FA 0161

Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 18 FA 0161

This funding opportunity, titled "Assessment of Asian carp and native fish movement and habitat use in the upper Illinois River watershed to inform Asian carp management" (Funding Opportunity Number USGS 18 FA 0161), was offered by the U.S. Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior. It was issued as a discretionary grant using a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning the agency expected to stay involved in the work as it progresses rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The program sits in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity area and is associated with CFDA number 15.808. The opportunity was created on August 8, 2018, with an original closing date of August 23, 2018. It anticipated making a single award, with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $75,000. Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

The research focus is applied fisheries science aimed at improving management decisions related to invasive bigheaded carps (a term commonly used to refer to bighead carp and silver carp) and understanding how native fish are moving through a critical part of the upper Illinois River watershed. The work is centered on movement behavior and habitat use, which are key uncertainties for managers trying to predict where invasive carp will concentrate, when they will shift habitats, and how barriers and waterways influence both invasive and native species.

The first objective is to identify the factors that influence the timing and extent of lateral habitat use by bigheaded carps in the Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River, using acoustic telemetry. In practical terms, this means tracking tagged carp with acoustic transmitters and monitoring when and how they move sideways off the main river channel into adjacent habitats such as backwaters, side channels, and floodplain-connected areas. "Timing" points to seasonal patterns and short-term triggers, while "extent" refers to how frequently, how far, and how long carp use these off-channel habitats. The intent is to connect fish behavior to environmental and hydrologic drivers that can be measured or anticipated, such as river stage, flow changes, water temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and potentially habitat connectivity during high-water events. Results from this part of the study are meant to help managers understand when carp are most likely to exploit connected habitats, which can influence surveillance strategies, targeted removal timing, and the placement or operation of deterrents and other control actions.

The second objective targets native fish movement in the Des Plaines River upstream of BRLD, using fin ray microchemistry. This component is designed to estimate the relative abundance of native fishes found upstream of BRLD that had previously occupied the Illinois River or the Kankakee River. The core management question here is how often native fish are moving upstream through BRLD, which functions as a key point in the system where connectivity and passage matter. Fin ray microchemistry is used because fin rays can incorporate chemical signatures from the waters a fish has lived in; by analyzing these chemical "fingerprints," researchers can infer whether a fish collected upstream likely spent time in other river segments earlier in life. By applying this method across sampled native fish, the project aims to assess the frequency of upstream movement through BRLD, giving managers a clearer picture of how native species use the river network and how barriers, locks, dams, or other structures may be influencing connectivity.

Taken together, the grant supports a two-part study that links advanced movement tracking (acoustic telemetry) with natural chemical tagging methods (fin ray microchemistry) to answer practical management questions. The carp-focused telemetry work helps clarify when and why invasive carp shift into lateral habitats in the Starved Rock Pool, information that can be used to improve control timing and resource allocation. The native fish microchemistry work provides evidence about upstream movement patterns through BRLD, which is important for balancing invasive species management with conservation goals for native fish that may rely on connectivity among the Des Plaines, Illinois, and Kankakee river systems.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assessment of Asian carp and native fish movement and habitat use in the upper Illinois River watershed to inform Asian carp management" 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 08, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 23, 2018. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for USGS 18 FA 0161

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