Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program: Zooplankton, Mysis, and Benthic Invertebrate Components
🏛 Environmental Protection Agency
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations conducting biological monitoring of the Great Lakes ecosystem, specifically focusing on zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate populations. Eligible recipients typically include universities, state environmental agencies, tribal organizations, and nonprofit research institutions with expertise in freshwater biology and aquatic monitoring. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to collect field samples, conduct laboratory analysis, and manage data according to EPA protocols. The program supports monitoring activities in the Great Lakes region and contributes to understanding ecosystem health and changes in aquatic biological communities over time.
This grant is for organizations conducting biological monitoring of the Great Lakes ecosystem, specifically focusing on zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate populations. Eligible recipients typically include universities, state environmental agencies, tribal organizations, and nonprofit research institutions with expertise in freshwater biology and aquatic monitoring. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to collect field samples, conduct laboratory analysis, and manage data according to EPA protocols. The program supports monitoring activities in the Great Lakes region and contributes to understanding ecosystem health and changes in aquatic biological communities over time.
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 zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate components of the GLBMP. The targeted audience for this funding opportunity is eligible entities listed below capable of analyzing zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate community abundance and composition. 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 biological monitoring of the Great Lakes ecosystem, specifically focusing on zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate populations. Eligible recipients typically include universities, state environmental agencies, tribal organizations, and nonprofit research institutions with expertise in freshwater biology and aquatic monitoring. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to collect field samples, conduct laboratory analysis, and manage data according to EPA protocols. The program supports monitoring activities in the Great Lakes region and contributes to understanding ecosystem health and changes in aquatic biological communities over time.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement and Other Forms (specific OMB forms required by EPA)
- Project narrative (typically 10–15 pages) describing monitoring objectives, methods, quality assurance, and data management
- Detailed budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation (staffing qualifications, past performance on similar projects)
- Letters of commitment or partnership agreements from collaborating organizations
- Quality assurance project plan (QAPP) or quality assurance annexes
- Data management and dissemination plan
- Timeline and work schedule
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 EPA Great Lakes monitoring grant?
Universities, state environmental departments, tribal organizations, nonprofits with relevant scientific expertise, and some consulting firms can apply. You'll need demonstrated capacity in field sampling, laboratory analysis, and data management for aquatic organisms.
What is the deadline and application window?
Applications open May 1, 2026, with a fixed deadline of June 30, 2026. This is a 2-month application window, so plan your submission well in advance.
What activities and expenses does this grant support?
The program funds biological monitoring activities including field sampling of zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrates; laboratory analysis; data management; and reporting. Equipment, personnel, travel for sampling, and contractual services are typically allowable costs.
How competitive is this grant?
EPA biological monitoring programs are moderately to highly competitive. Strong applications demonstrate scientific rigor, clear quality assurance protocols, alignment with EPA research priorities, and capacity to meet strict sampling and reporting schedules.
What is the typical funding range?
Great Lakes monitoring grants typically range from $50,000 to $250,000 annually depending on scope and study design, though amounts vary. Check recent funding announcements for the specific budget ceiling for this cycle.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish clear linkages between your proposed monitoring and EPA's Great Lakes restoration priorities, such as habitat health, invasive species detection, or ecosystem productivity trends. Show how your data will inform regional management decisions.
- Develop robust quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures for field sampling and laboratory work. EPA emphasizes data quality—include chain of custody protocols, duplicate samples, and calibration procedures in your methodology.
- Partner with state environmental agencies or Great Lakes universities if possible. Collaborative proposals with established regional monitoring networks strengthen competitiveness and demonstrate commitment to long-term data integration.
- Provide clear, detailed field sampling protocols and timelines. Specify sampling locations, frequency, equipment, and personnel qualifications. EPA reviewers want confidence that you can execute consistent, repeatable monitoring across multiple years.
- Include a strong data management and dissemination plan showing how your zooplankton, Mysis, or benthic data will be stored, archived, and made accessible to EPA and the scientific community (e.g., via a data portal or repository).
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when they lack sufficient detail on QA/QC procedures, provide vague sampling protocols, or fail to demonstrate existing capacity in Great Lakes monitoring. Reviewers reject proposals that don't clearly connect findings to EPA priorities or that underestimate the complexity of consistent, long-term biological sampling in a large aquatic ecosystem.
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