Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with South Florida Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G22AS00388

Opportunity Information: Apply for G22AS00388

The US Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a discretionary financial assistance award through a cooperative agreement to support research that strengthens how sea level rise (SLR) is considered in Everglades restoration planning. This opportunity is specifically aimed at a partner organization that is already affiliated with the South Florida Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The core purpose is to improve the way ecological impacts of proposed restoration actions are evaluated by making SLR a more explicit and systematic part of the assessment process, rather than an external uncertainty that is handled inconsistently or only qualitatively.

The work is tied directly to the needs of RECOVER (Restoration Coordination and Verification), the team responsible for evaluating how Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects may influence ecosystem-wide ecological dynamics across the Everglades. RECOVER relies on structured evaluation methods and ecological models to compare potential restoration projects and predict outcomes. Because sea level rise can alter hydrology, salinity patterns, habitat distribution, and overall ecosystem function, it can significantly affect whether a restoration project ultimately maintains or improves ecological integrity. RECOVER has requested support from the USGS Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) team to develop practical methods and tools that allow SLR scenarios to be integrated into their existing project evaluation framework.

The project described in the opportunity focuses on three connected deliverables. First, it will identify which restoration questions and decision points actually need to incorporate SLR to avoid misleading conclusions, recognizing that not every project type is affected in the same way. Second, it will provide guidance on selecting sea level rise scenarios that are most relevant to the characteristics of each specific restoration project, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all scenario set. Third, it will develop and document an approach for incorporating the selected SLR scenarios into current planning and evaluation processes through the ecological models already used in Everglades assessments. In other words, the emphasis is not just on discussing sea level rise, but on making it operational within the modeling and decision workflow that stakeholders already use.

A major motivation for the award is uncertainty reduction. Predicted ecological outcomes for CERP projects can vary widely depending on assumptions about future sea levels, and that uncertainty can undermine confidence in project selection and sequencing. By embedding SLR scenarios into the evaluation process, the project aims to make comparisons among competing restoration alternatives more realistic and transparent, especially for outcomes tied to long-term ecological integrity. The tools and methods produced are intended to be usable by stakeholders involved in Everglades restoration so they can better weigh tradeoffs, understand risks under different sea level trajectories, and make more informed decisions as implementation continues across the landscape.

Administratively, the opportunity is issued under the CESU Program, which is designed to support partnerships that deliver research, technical assistance, and education. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning USGS is expected to have substantial involvement during the project, typically through collaboration, coordination, and shared technical input rather than a hands-off grant structure. The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number G22AS00388, with an activity category of Science and Technology and other Research and Development and a CFDA number of 15.808. The stated award ceiling is $75,000. Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners in the South Florida Caribbean CESU network. The posting indicates it was created on 2022-06-10, with an original closing date of 2022-07-12.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with South Florida Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-06-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G22AS00388

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