Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Rocky Mountain 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 CESU partner organizations conducting research on ecosystem management. Eligible applicants must be an active participating partner of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. The specific project focuses on hydropower dam operations and multispecies conservation in the Skagit River watershed in Washington State. This is a targeted opportunity for established research partners within the CESU network.
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Program description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC) is offering a Cooperative Agreement funding opportunity to a Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) partner to conduct research on the tradeoffs among hydropower dam operations, multispecies conservation, recreation, flood control, and electricity generation in the Skagit River, WA. Specifically, the research is to develop and deliver a spatially explicit, multispecies simulation modeling framework to support adaptive management in the Skagit River watershed. Collaborators include Seattle City Light, USGS, Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus (including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Indian Affairs), and other state, federal, and tribal partners.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Completed SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative describing research design, modeling approach, and deliverables
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational documentation confirming CESU partner status
- Letters of Support from collaborating agencies and partners
- Résumés of key project personnel
- USGS Data Management Plan
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
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$240,000,000
-
$11,148,115
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$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 organizations that are participating partners of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. Your organization must have an existing formal partnership agreement with the CESU.
What region does this grant cover?
The research project focuses specifically on the Skagit River watershed in Washington State. Applicants should have capacity to conduct field work and modeling in this region.
What kind of research is this grant funding?
Development of ecosystem simulation models that analyze tradeoffs between hydropower operations, species conservation, recreation, flood control, and energy generation.
What is the typical funding amount?
Awards range from $1 to $341,565. The total funding pool is approximately $341,565 for this competitive cycle.
Does this grant require matching funds?
No cost sharing is required. However, many USGS cooperative agreements benefit from in-kind contributions from partner organizations.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate your organization's existing relationship and standing within the Rocky Mountain CESU before applying. Clear partnership documentation strengthens competitiveness.
- Highlight collaboration capacity with multiple agencies. This grant explicitly involves USGS, USFWS, NPS, tribes, and other partners—show your experience working across sectors.
- Develop a clear spatially explicit modeling framework. The deliverable must be usable for adaptive management decisions in the Skagit River watershed.
- Include letters of support from key collaborators like Seattle City Light, USFWS, and tribal partners. These demonstrate stakeholder buy-in for your approach.
- Budget for long-term engagement. Ecosystem research requires sustained effort; show realistic timelines for model development, validation, and delivery to end-users.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without CESU partner status is the primary disqualifier. Inadequate detail on how your modeling framework will support actual adaptive management decisions by dam operators and conservation partners. Underestimating the complexity of coordinating multi-agency collaboration.
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