Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
USGS is funding a Rocky Mountain CESU participating partner to develop a spatially explicit multispecies simulation modeling framework for adaptive management tradeoffs in Skagit River dam operations, conservation, recreation, flood control, and electricity generation.
⚑ Only eligible if the applicant is a participating partner of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). · Cooperative agreement under the CESU program; collaboration with federal, state, tribal, and utility partners is part of the project context. · Award ceiling is $341,565.
This is primarily an ecological/hydrologic simulation and adaptive management project centered on dam operations, multispecies conservation, and flood-control tradeoffs. It is well outside IPPRA’s core social-behavioral risk, warning, energy-acceptance, and policy-evaluation lines, with no obvious PI-level fit for the current roster.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-11-06
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | portfolio topics: environment, water_resources, climate_weather (primary); social/behavioral work is minor; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 30 weak | funds applied research; deep-tech content |
Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC) is offering a Cooperative Agreement funding opportunity to a Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) partner to conduct research on the tradeoffs among hydropower dam operations, multispecies conservation, recreation, flood control, and electricity generation in the Skagit River, WA. Specifically, the research is to develop and deliver a spatially explicit, multispecies simulation modeling framework to support adaptive management in the Skagit River watershed. Collaborators include Seattle City Light, USGS, Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus (including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Indian Affairs), and other state, federal, and tribal partners.
Eligibility
This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program. CESU's are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Geological Survey <katherine_calder@ios.doi.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Federal (generic) conventions SEE A FEDERAL EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Federal (generic)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.