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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What agency is offering this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What type of funding instrument is being used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means USGS will have substantial involvement in the work through collaboration, coordination, and shared technical input rather than a hands-off grant relationship.

What is the main purpose of this cooperative agreement?

The purpose is to support research that strengthens how sea level rise (SLR) is considered in Everglades restoration planning, specifically by making SLR an explicit and systematic part of the assessment process used to evaluate ecological impacts of proposed restoration actions.

How does this work relate to Everglades restoration efforts?

The work is tied to RECOVER (Restoration Coordination and Verification), which evaluates how Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects may influence ecosystem-wide ecological dynamics across the Everglades.

Why is sea level rise important for evaluating CERP projects?

Sea level rise can alter hydrology, salinity patterns, habitat distribution, and overall ecosystem function. Because of these changes, SLR can significantly affect whether a restoration project maintains or improves long-term ecological integrity.

What problem is this opportunity trying to solve?

The opportunity aims to address inconsistent or purely qualitative handling of sea level rise in project evaluations. It focuses on reducing uncertainty and improving transparency by embedding SLR scenarios directly into existing evaluation methods and ecological modeling workflows.

Who requested this support?

RECOVER requested support from the USGS Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) team to develop practical methods and tools for integrating sea level rise scenarios into their project evaluation framework.

What are the key deliverables expected from the project?

The opportunity describes three connected deliverables: (1) identifying which restoration questions and decision points need to incorporate sea level rise to avoid misleading conclusions, (2) providing guidance on selecting SLR scenarios that are most relevant to each restoration project (rather than using a one-size-fits-all scenario set), and (3) developing and documenting an approach to incorporate selected SLR scenarios into existing planning and evaluation processes using the ecological models already used in Everglades assessments.

Does every Everglades restoration project need sea level rise incorporated the same way?

No. A stated emphasis of the work is recognizing that not every project type is affected in the same way, and determining which questions and decision points actually need SLR integration to avoid misleading results.

What does it mean to make sea level rise "operational" in the evaluation process?

It means going beyond general discussion of sea level rise and instead incorporating selected SLR scenarios into the models and structured decision workflows that stakeholders already use to evaluate and compare restoration alternatives.

How will this project reduce uncertainty in project outcomes?

Predicted ecological outcomes for CERP projects can vary widely depending on assumptions about future sea levels. By embedding SLR scenarios into the evaluation process, the project aims to make comparisons among alternatives more realistic and transparent and to clarify risks and tradeoffs under different sea level trajectories.

Who are the intended users of the methods and tools produced?

The tools and methods 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 restoration implementation continues across the landscape.

Under what program is this opportunity issued?

This opportunity is issued under the CESU Program (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units), which supports partnerships that deliver research, technical assistance, and education.

What is the specific CESU network mentioned in the eligibility requirements?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners in the South Florida Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network.

Who is eligible to apply?

Only organizations that are participating partners in the South Florida Caribbean CESU network are eligible, and the opportunity is specifically aimed at a partner organization already affiliated with that CESU.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G22AS00388.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 15.808.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The stated award ceiling is $75,000.

When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posting indicates it was created on 2022-06-10, with an original closing date of 2022-07-12.

Is USGS expected to be involved during the project?

Yes. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, USGS is expected to have substantial involvement, typically through collaboration, coordination, and shared technical input.

What kinds of methods or tools are expected to be developed?

Based on the description, the expected outputs include practical methods and documented approaches that integrate sea level rise scenarios into existing Everglades ecological models and RECOVER's structured evaluation framework.

What is the emphasis of the project: new models or improving the existing workflow?

The emphasis is on integrating selected sea level rise scenarios into the current planning and evaluation processes using the ecological models already used in Everglades assessments, rather than treating SLR as an external uncertainty handled inconsistently.

What decision-making benefits are expected from integrating SLR scenarios?

The expected benefits include more realistic and transparent comparisons among competing restoration alternatives, improved understanding of long-term ecological integrity implications, and clearer insight into tradeoffs and risks under different sea level trajectories.