The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program for research on salt marsh processes. This opportunity is available to a CESU partner within the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The research focus includes studying ecological and geomorphic changes in salt marshes due to sea level rise, land use, sediment supply, and restoration efforts. Specific areas of study may include salt marsh migration into retreating forests and the controls of marsh health, drainage, and channel development on a landscape scale. The project will employ techniques such as remote sensing, numerical modeling, and field observations, leveraging USGS metrics like the UnVegetated-Vegetated Ratio (UVVR). The research findings are intended to inform natural resource management and coastal resilience strategies at the local and national levels.

The award for this opportunity is anticipated to be a single cooperative agreement with one base year and four renewal years. The total estimated funding for the project is $300,000, with $60,000 allocated for the fiscal year 2025. Additional funding is contingent on satisfactory progress and the availability of funds. The project aims to quantify patterns of salt marsh change, develop indicators of marsh vulnerability, and investigate the ecogeomorphic behavior of newly formed salt marshes. The data and research results will be widely disseminated to federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the scientific community.

Eligible applicants must be participating partners of the Chesapeake Watershed CESU Program. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov and include a project proposal detailing objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and dissemination plans. Required application components include a budget justification, personnel details, available laboratory and field equipment, and a data management plan. Budget details must specify costs related to salaries, fringe benefits, field expenses, laboratory analyses, equipment, supplies, and indirect charges, which are capped at a negotiated CESU rate of 17.5%.

The evaluation criteria for this funding opportunity include the clarity and relevance of research objectives (25 points), the feasibility and technical soundness of the approach (25 points), the appropriateness of the budget (25 points), and the qualifications and experience of the research team (25 points). Applications will be reviewed by USGS technical personnel, who will assess the completeness and quality of the submission, including past performance in similar research.

Award administration requires annual progress reports, final technical reports, and financial reports submitted through GrantSolutions. Recipients are responsible for compliance with federal reporting and financial management requirements. Additionally, all publications resulting from this research must acknowledge USGS funding support and comply with the Department of the Interior's standard terms and conditions. The project abstract summary, detailing research activities and expected outcomes, will be publicly available through USAspending.gov.

The contractual point of contact for this funding opportunity is Faith D. Graves, CESU Contract Specialist at USGS. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to her via email at fgraves@usgs.gov or phone at (703) 648-7356. The deadline for application submissions and other key dates are not explicitly mentioned in the funding announcement and should be confirmed with the USGS CESU program.