Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
🏛 Geological Survey (DOI-USGS1)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Nov 13, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partners conducting fish research. Eligible recipients must be current partners in the Great Rivers CESU network. The funding supports research developing and testing methods to detect invasive carp larvae and eggs in river systems.
The grant focuses on ichthyoplankton sampling technology for the Mississippi River Basin and Great Lakes regions. Research must address detection of invasive carp reproduction in uninvaded waters. Eligible work includes developing, testing, and validating passive sampling approaches.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a Great Rivers CESU partner for research to develop and test hydrodynamically based, passive ichthyoplankton samplers for capture of downstream-drifting invasive carp eggs and larvae in rivers.
Invasive carp–bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) silver (H. molitrix), grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and black (Mylopharyngodon piceus) carp–are native to Southeast Asia and have spread throughout much of the Mississippi River Basin since their escape from private, wastewater, and aquaculture ponds in the 1980’s. Technologies allowing for early detection of these species, especially evidence of natural reproduction, are needed by state and federal agencies throughout the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins to control the spread of invasive carp and assess risk to uninvaded waters. Invasive carp can make long-distance spawning migrations upriver from adult population fronts to uninvaded waters to spawn. As such, ichthyoplankton may be the first evidence of invasive carp in uninvaded waters
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Letters of Support from end-users (recommended)
- CV or biographical information for key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 Geological Survey
- 📧 katherine_calder@ios.doi.gov
- 📞 916-278-9331
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.808 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$240,000,000
-
$11,148,115
-
$10,533,234
-
$10,055,533
-
$8,476,627
-
$8,454,102
-
$7,659,261
-
$6,894,612
-
$6,800,079
-
$6,644,228
Top States by Funding
- CO 9 awards $247.6M
- CA 24 awards $73.6M
- AK 17 awards $35.1M
- FL 7 awards $23.2M
- WA 4 awards $16.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.808). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2021 | $35,000,000 | |
| 2022 | $157,201,151 | |
| 2023 | $263,107,440 | |
| 2024 | $125,066,719 | |
| 2025 est. | $110,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $60,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only current partners of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit are eligible. Contact the Great Rivers CESU to confirm partnership status before applying.
What kind of research is funded?
The grant supports developing and testing ichthyoplankton samplers to detect invasive carp eggs and larvae in rivers. Research must address early detection of spawning activity in uninvaded waters.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $1 to $300,000. The total funding pool is $300,000 for all awards in this cycle.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing or matching funds are required for this grant. All project costs can be funded by the award.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is December 7, 2026. This is a fixed deadline; applications received after this date will not be accepted.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly explain how your sampling technology advances early detection of invasive carp. Focus on prevention and risk assessment value to state and federal agencies.
- Connect your work to the geographic priorities: Mississippi River Basin and Great Lakes regions. Identify which waters or river systems your research addresses.
- Include letters of support from potential end-users (state fisheries agencies, USGS field offices). Show that agencies will use your results.
- Be specific about testing protocols and validation methods. Describe how you'll demonstrate that your sampler works in real river conditions.
- Budget realistically for field testing and equipment development. Reviewers expect detailed costs for prototyping and pilot studies.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without confirmed Great Rivers CESU partner status. Vague descriptions of sampling methods or validation approaches; reviewers need clear technical details. Failing to demonstrate relevance to actual management needs of fish control agencies.
Similar grants
- OPEN Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit — Geological Survey
- OPEN Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit — Geological Survey
- CLOSING SOON Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) — Geological Survey
- OPEN Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit — Geological Survey
- OPEN Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit — Geological Survey