Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU | G20AS00077

Opportunity Information: Apply for G20AS00077

This funding opportunity, titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G20AS00077), was issued by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically through the Columbia Environmental Research Center. It is a discretionary research and development award under a cooperative agreement, meaning the selected recipient would typically work closely with USGS staff during the project rather than operating entirely independently. The opportunity was posted on June 15, 2020, with an original application deadline of June 30, 2020. USGS anticipated making a single award, with a maximum (ceiling) amount of $25,475.

The core purpose of the project is to support ecological monitoring and atmospheric deposition science at Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in northwestern Alaska. The work focuses on applying lead (Pb) isotopic analysis to environmental materials, specifically moss tissue and snowpack. By measuring isotopic ratios (and related elemental/isotopic signatures) in these materials, the project aims to establish local baseline conditions. Those baselines can then be used for source attribution, meaning they help determine where lead and potentially other deposited contaminants are coming from (for example, distinguishing among natural background sources versus long-range atmospheric transport from industrial activities).

In addition to building baseline isotopic datasets, the project is intended to generate information that supports model validation. In this context, USGS is interested in validating models that connect moss tissue concentrations to atmospheric deposition, with attention to both coastal and interior settings. Moss is often used as a biomonitor because it can accumulate airborne contaminants over time, making it a practical indicator of deposition patterns across landscapes. Reliable validation data help determine whether the models accurately reflect real-world conditions and whether they can be trusted for broader monitoring applications.

A key management and policy-relevant outcome tied to this work is improved capability for "critical loads" and early warning sign monitoring. Critical loads are thresholds of pollutant deposition below which significant harmful effects on sensitive ecosystem components are not expected. By strengthening the scientific foundation for interpreting moss and snowpack chemistry, the project supports earlier detection of changes that might signal increasing pollutant inputs or shifting source influences, which is especially important in remote Arctic and sub-Arctic environments where baseline data can be limited and environmental change can be rapid.

Eligibility is limited to partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically under the Pacific Northwest CESU framework, with the listing indicating "Others" and directing applicants to additional eligibility details in the full announcement. In practical terms, that generally means the applicant must be an eligible CESU partner organization capable of delivering specialized isotopic analytical expertise and collaborating effectively with USGS on study design, interpretation, and integration of results into monitoring and modeling efforts.

• 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 "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU" 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 Jun 15, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2020. (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 $25,475.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G20AS00077

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