Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes – Northern Forest CESU Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00401

Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00401

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a discretionary financial assistance opportunity to support a five-year research project focused on Lake Sturgeon in Lake Erie. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, meaning USGS expects to have substantial involvement in the work as it is planned and carried out, rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal agency participation. The project is framed as science and technology research and development and is intended to generate applied scientific information that can inform understanding and management of this species in the Lake Erie ecosystem.

The core purpose of the project is to study multiple dimensions of Lake Sturgeon ecology, specifically survival, habitat use, and movement patterns within Lake Erie. In practical terms, the work would likely involve collecting and analyzing data that describe where sturgeon spend time, how they move across seasons or life stages, what habitats they rely on, and how those factors relate to their survival. Because the opportunity describes several aspects of survival, habitat use, and movements, it suggests a comprehensive, multi-year approach that can capture variability over time and provide stronger conclusions than a short-term study.

This opportunity is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, a nationwide network of partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other partners to provide research, technical assistance, and education. The specific CESU identified here is the Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU, and eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in that CESU. In other words, this is not open to the general public or all institutions; applicants must be part of the established CESU partnership structure for the Great Lakes - Northern Forest region.

Key administrative details include the Funding Opportunity Number G23AS00401 and the associated CFDA number 15.808. The awarding agency is the USGS (listed as Geological Survey). The opportunity was created on June 7, 2023, and the original closing date for applications was July 7, 2023. The listed award ceiling is $148,799, which indicates the maximum anticipated federal funding level for an award under this announcement. The posting also lists "ExpectedAwards" but does not provide a number, implying the announcement may anticipate a limited number of awards or that the exact number was not specified in the source data.

Overall, this funding opportunity supports a targeted, long-duration research effort on Lake Sturgeon in Lake Erie, structured through the CESU partnership model. It is designed for a qualified Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU partner to work collaboratively with USGS over five years to produce scientific findings on sturgeon survival, habitat use, and movement that can strengthen ecological knowledge and support resource management decisions in the region.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes – Northern Forest CESU 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 2023-06-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-07-07. (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 $148,799.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G23AS00401

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