Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
🏛 Geological Survey (DOI-USGS1)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for participating partners of the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. Eligible recipients include universities, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and tribal entities that are formal partners in the CESU network.
The grant supports freshwater aquatic ecosystem research in the Pacific Northwest region. Projects must focus on native fish species conservation, invasive species management, or climate adaptation in freshwater systems.
Applicants must develop science-based tools, models, or research that informs resource management decisions. Work should advance federal priorities including water security, species recovery, fisheries management, and natural resource conservation.
Partner organizations must demonstrate capacity to conduct research, engage stakeholders, and deliver actionable science and data products to resource managers.
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Program description
Freshwater aquatic habitats in the Northwest sustain native fish such as bull trout, salmon, and lamprey that are important to the region’s food economy, outdoor recreation, and as Tribal resources. However, increasing water temperatures and fluctuating precipitation can increase the vulnerability of these habitats and native species to biological invasions. Among non-native species that are known threats to the iconic native bull trout are brook trout and smallmouth bass. This project aims to inform freshwater ecosystem management by developing a modeling tool that predicts the likelihood of non-native fish invasion and impacts in the Northwest under different future scenarios and management approaches. The modeling tools will help decision-makers evaluate and prioritize actions that safeguard native bull trout and freshwater streams from the impacts of non-native fishes and interacting environmental stressors.
This work advances EO 14313 Establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission (July 3, 2025) by evaluating fish, wildlife, and habitat to inform species recovery efforts and management plans at federal, state, and Tribal levels. It also advances science-based conservation of natural resources and strengthens the ability of agencies and communities to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems from biological degradation. Additionally, this work supports EO 14276 -Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness (April 17, 2025) and SO 3447 -Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access, Removing Unnecessary Barriers, and Ensuring Consistency Across the Department of the Interior Lands and Waters (January 7, 2026) by providing science to improve fisheries management, sustain access to recreational fishing, and safeguard the region’s cultural and economic interests.
Projects supported under this cooperative agreement should advance Administration priorities, including, but not limited to, American energy dominance, critical mineral development, water security, infrastructure resilience, and natural hazard preparedness. Research and activities may incorporate scientific expertise in areas such as hydrology, geology, geospatial science, biosecurity, and near-earth space science, including extreme events such as drought, flooding, wildland fire, coastal erosion, severe storms, and geologic hazards, to develop actionable science, data, and tools that support informed decision-making by resource managers and stakeholders.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Letters of Support from Resource Management Partners
- Evidence of CESU Partner Status
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 8 awards $247.1M
- CA 23 awards $73.1M
- AK 15 awards $34.2M
- FL 6 awards $22.8M
- 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.
| 2024 | $125,066,719 | |
| 2025 | $54,713,074 | |
| 2026 est. | $60,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only participating partners of the Pacific Northwest CESU Program are eligible. Partners typically include universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and tribal organizations.
What is the funding range and deadline?
Awards range from $1 to $360,000. The deadline is November 14, 2026.
What types of projects are supported?
Projects developing predictive models, research tools, or management strategies for freshwater ecosystem conservation, invasive species control, and native fish protection. Work must be science-based and actionable for decision-makers.
Is cost-sharing required?
No, cost-sharing is not required for this cooperative agreement.
How competitive is this grant?
Very competitive. The total funding pool is $360,000 across all awards. Strong applications demonstrate partnership with resource agencies, tribal engagement, and clear management applications.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish partnerships with federal, state, and tribal resource management agencies early. These partnerships strengthen your application and ensure research relevance.
- Emphasize how your research directly informs management decisions. Include letters of support from potential end-users of your tools or data.
- Address climate adaptation and environmental stressors explicitly. Link your work to the administration priorities mentioned in the grant description.
- Demonstrate stakeholder engagement capacity. Show how you will communicate findings to tribal nations, fishing communities, and land managers.
- Develop a realistic timeline and budget aligned with a discrete research question. Avoid overscoping—the funding pool is modest relative to typical ecological research costs.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without formal CESU partner status or without confirming organizational eligibility with the CESU program office. Not clearly articulating how findings will be applied to on-the-ground management decisions. Proposing research that is too theoretical or lacks direct relevance to invasive species control, native species recovery, or ecosystem management in the Pacific Northwest.
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