Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program: Phytoplankton and Chlorophyll-a Components
🏛 Environmental Protection Agency
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations conducting water quality monitoring in the Great Lakes region, specifically focused on phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a measurement. Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, state/tribal water quality agencies, and nonprofit environmental organizations with demonstrated capacity in aquatic monitoring. Projects must address EPA's Great Lakes restoration priorities and contribute to understanding eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, or water quality trends. The geographic scope is limited to the Great Lakes basin and its tributaries. Supported activities include field sampling, laboratory analysis, data management, quality assurance/quality control, and technical reporting related to phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a monitoring.
This grant is for organizations conducting water quality monitoring in the Great Lakes region, specifically focused on phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a measurement. Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, state/tribal water quality agencies, and nonprofit environmental organizations with demonstrated capacity in aquatic monitoring. Projects must address EPA's Great Lakes restoration priorities and contribute to understanding eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, or water quality trends. The geographic scope is limited to the Great Lakes basin and its tributaries. Supported activities include field sampling, laboratory analysis, data management, quality assurance/quality control, and technical reporting related to phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a monitoring.
Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) solicits applications from eligible entities for grants to be awarded pursuant to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan IV. The Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program (GLBMP) fulfills EPA’s statutory obligation specified in Clean Water Act Section 118(c)(B) to establish a Great Lakes system-wide surveillance network to monitor the water quality of the Great Lakes. The goals of the GLBMP are to (1) report on Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem condition using assessments of the lower food web (phytoplankton, chlorophyll, zooplankton, Mysis and benthic invertebrates) as indicators; (2) assess the impacts to the lower food web from invasive species including quagga mussels; and (3) inform fisheries and habitat management. The Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is requesting applications for a project to complete sample collection and analyses in support of the Phytoplankton and Chlorophyll-a components of the GLBMP. The targeted audience for this funding opportunity is eligible entities listed below capable of analyzing phytoplankton community abundance and composition and chlorophyll-a concentrations in water samples. The intended beneficiaries of the GLBMP are all those who live, recreate, or work within the Great Lakes basin.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for organizations conducting water quality monitoring in the Great Lakes region, specifically focused on phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a measurement. Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, state/tribal water quality agencies, and nonprofit environmental organizations with demonstrated capacity in aquatic monitoring. Projects must address EPA's Great Lakes restoration priorities and contribute to understanding eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, or water quality trends. The geographic scope is limited to the Great Lakes basin and its tributaries. Supported activities include field sampling, laboratory analysis, data management, quality assurance/quality control, and technical reporting related to phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a monitoring.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative (typically 15–20 pages) describing monitoring objectives, methods, and deliverables
- Quality assurance/quality control plan with EPA-approved methods
- Budget and budget narrative with detailed justification
- Letters of commitment from partnering agencies or data users
- Resumes or qualifications of key personnel
- EPA Form 4700-4 (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities)
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Dannell Brown Grants Specialist
- 📧 GLRI-RFA@epa.gov
- 📞 202-250-8872
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 66.469 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$16,125,000
-
$15,316,000
-
$13,739,000
-
$12,500,000
-
$12,280,000
-
$10,229,545
-
$10,072,721
-
$9,966,200
-
$9,706,741
-
$9,642,349
Top States by Funding
- MI 27 awards $121.7M
- WI 23 awards $91.5M
- OH 26 awards $70.4M
- NY 14 awards $61.4M
- MN 3 awards $23.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 66.469). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $96,060,944 | |
| 2025 | $66,673,165 | |
| 2026 est. | $80,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Typically eligible applicants include state and tribal environmental/water quality agencies, universities, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations with documented expertise in aquatic monitoring and access to Great Lakes sampling locations.
What is the typical funding range for awards?
Funding varies based on project scope and complexity, but Great Lakes monitoring grants commonly range from $50,000 to $500,000 annually, though specific amounts should be confirmed in the detailed announcement.
What activities can be funded?
Eligible activities include field sampling, chlorophyll-a and phytoplankton analysis, quality assurance procedures, data management systems, laboratory operations, and preparation of monitoring reports and deliverables.
What is the deadline and application process?
Applications open May 1, 2026, with a fixed deadline of June 30, 2026. Submission is typically through Grants.gov using the SF-424 form and other EPA-required documents.
How competitive is this program?
Great Lakes monitoring programs are moderately to highly competitive. Success typically depends on strong technical approach, established partnerships with state/tribal agencies, quality assurance protocols, and clear contribution to EPA's Great Lakes restoration goals.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish partnerships with state or tribal water quality agencies early, as collaboration strengthens applications and ensures data integration with regional monitoring networks.
- Develop a robust quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) plan with specific protocols for sample collection, analysis, and data validation that meets EPA standards.
- Clearly demonstrate how your phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a data will inform management decisions or contribute to understanding harmful algal bloom formation and eutrophication trends.
- Use spatial mapping and multi-year trend analysis to show how monitoring results will fill data gaps or provide early warning for water quality degradation in specific Great Lakes areas.
- Include letters of commitment from potential data users (state agencies, municipal water systems, tribal governments) to demonstrate end-user buy-in and likelihood of sustained monitoring beyond the grant period.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications frequently fail due to inadequate detail on monitoring protocols and QA/QC procedures—EPA expects rigorous, EPA-approved analytical methods. Weak partnerships or failure to demonstrate coordination with state/tribal agencies significantly reduces competitiveness. Many applicants underestimate the importance of showing how results will directly support Great Lakes restoration priorities, such as reducing harmful algal blooms or informing eutrophication management strategies.
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