Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00074
The US Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program, specifically limited to eligible partners of the Pacific Northwest CESU. The opportunity focuses on scientific research and technical development related to harmful algal blooms (HABs), with the work centered on a 16-mile segment of the upper Illinois River known as the Starved Rock Pool, an area with a history of HAB events. The grant is intended to support the creation of a modeling tool that can help explain conditions that contribute to bloom development, especially how river movement and temperature patterns influence HAB risk.
The core project deliverable is a two-dimensional hydrodynamic and water-quality model of the Starved Rock Pool. The model design is two-dimensional in the longitudinal (along-river) and vertical directions, while being laterally averaged (meaning it does not fully resolve side-to-side variability across the river, but instead represents cross-sectional conditions in an averaged way). To build the model, the recipient will generate a 2D computational grid and then carry out key calibration steps, including water balance calibration (ensuring inflows, outflows, and storage changes make physical sense), hydrodynamic calibration (aligning modeled flow behavior with observed velocities and water movement), and temperature calibration (matching simulated thermal structure and temperature dynamics to measured conditions). These calibration steps are important because HAB formation is strongly tied to how water moves, mixes, stratifies, and warms or cools over time.
Data collection and data integration are central to the approach. Real-time water-quality monitoring and streamgage information will be used to produce time series that feed the model as boundary conditions, such as upstream inputs and downstream constraints. In addition, the project includes field measurements of discrete velocity and temperature profiles throughout the water column at several locations in the study reach. Those profiles provide the observational benchmark needed to tune and validate the model so it reproduces the river's internal dynamics, not just surface conditions.
The expected model outputs are laterally averaged, two-dimensional time series of hydrodynamic behavior and water temperature across the study reach. In practical terms, this means the final product should be able to show how flow and temperature evolve along the 16-mile pool and through depth over time, which can reveal patterns like slow-moving zones, mixing behavior, and thermal layering that may create favorable conditions for harmful algal blooms. USGS intends for the model to be used as an interpretive and planning tool to better understand the roles hydrodynamics and temperature play in HAB development in this specific reach of the Illinois River.
Administratively, the opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement (rather than a standard grant), which typically implies closer involvement and collaboration with the federal agency during the project. The funding opportunity number is G23AS00074, and it falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category, with CFDA number 15.808. The award ceiling listed is $33,800, and the original closing date was December 9, 2022. Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are already participating partners in the Pacific Northwest CESU network, reflecting the CESU program's purpose of leveraging established partnerships to deliver research, technical assistance, and educational outcomes tied to public resource management needs.Apply for G23AS00074
- 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 Pacific Northwest 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 2022-11-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-12-09. (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 $33,800.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program. It supports scientific research and technical development focused on harmful algal blooms (HABs) in a specific reach of the Illinois River.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to create a modeling tool that helps explain the conditions that contribute to harmful algal bloom development, with emphasis on how river movement (hydrodynamics) and temperature patterns influence HAB risk.
What area is being studied?
The work is centered on a 16-mile segment of the upper Illinois River called the Starved Rock Pool, which has a history of harmful algal bloom events.
What is the primary deliverable?
The core deliverable is a two-dimensional hydrodynamic and water-quality model of the Starved Rock Pool.
What does “two-dimensional” mean in this model?
The model is two-dimensional in the longitudinal (along-river) and vertical directions. It is laterally averaged, meaning it does not explicitly resolve side-to-side variability across the river. Instead, it represents cross-sectional conditions in an averaged way.
Why is the model laterally averaged instead of fully 3D?
The opportunity specifies a laterally averaged 2D design. Based on the description, the goal is to represent along-river and depth-based dynamics (including thermal layering and mixing) without fully resolving cross-river variation.
What major modeling tasks are expected?
The recipient is expected to generate a 2D computational grid and complete key calibration steps: water balance calibration, hydrodynamic calibration, and temperature calibration.
What is water balance calibration?
Water balance calibration is the step where inflows, outflows, and changes in storage are checked and adjusted so the modeled system is physically consistent.
What is hydrodynamic calibration?
Hydrodynamic calibration involves aligning modeled flow behavior with observed velocities and water movement so the simulation reproduces realistic river circulation and mixing behavior.
What is temperature calibration?
Temperature calibration is the process of matching the simulated temperature structure and temperature dynamics (including how the water warms, cools, and stratifies) to measured conditions.
Why do calibration steps matter for harmful algal blooms?
The opportunity notes that HAB formation is strongly tied to how water moves, mixes, stratifies, and warms or cools over time. Calibration helps ensure the model captures those dynamics accurately enough to interpret HAB-related conditions.
What data sources will be used to drive the model?
Real-time water-quality monitoring and streamgage information will be used to create time series that feed the model as boundary conditions (for example, upstream inputs and downstream constraints).
What field data collection is included in the project?
The project includes field measurements of discrete velocity and temperature profiles throughout the water column at several locations in the study reach.
How will the field measurements be used?
The velocity and temperature profiles provide observational benchmarks used to tune and validate the model so it reproduces the river’s internal dynamics, not just surface conditions.
What kinds of outputs are expected from the model?
The expected outputs are laterally averaged, two-dimensional time series of hydrodynamic behavior and water temperature across the study reach. In practical terms, the model should show how flow and temperature evolve along the 16-mile pool and through depth over time.
What insights is the model expected to provide?
The opportunity describes outputs that can reveal patterns such as slow-moving zones, mixing behavior, and thermal layering, which may create favorable conditions for harmful algal blooms.
How does USGS intend the model to be used?
USGS intends the model to function as an interpretive and planning tool to better understand the roles hydrodynamics and temperature play in HAB development in the Starved Rock Pool reach of the Illinois River.
Is this a standard grant or something else?
This opportunity is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. The description indicates this typically implies closer involvement and collaboration with the federal agency during the project.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are already participating partners in the Pacific Northwest CESU network.
Why is eligibility limited to Pacific Northwest CESU partners?
The opportunity is issued through the CESU program and is specifically limited to eligible partners of the Pacific Northwest CESU. This reflects the CESU program’s purpose of leveraging established partnerships to deliver research, technical assistance, and educational outcomes tied to public resource management needs.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is G23AS00074.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.808.
What is the activity category of this funding?
The opportunity falls under the “Science and Technology and other Research and Development” activity category.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed is $33,800.
When was the application closing date?
The original closing date was December 9, 2022.
Does the project scope include harmful algal bloom sampling or lab analysis?
The description focuses on hydrodynamic and temperature modeling, supported by real-time water-quality and streamgage data plus field measurements of velocity and temperature profiles. It does not describe HAB sampling or laboratory analysis as a named deliverable.
Does the model directly predict harmful algal blooms?
Based on the description, the model is designed to explain conditions that contribute to bloom development by modeling hydrodynamics and temperature. The opportunity does not explicitly state that the model will directly forecast blooms.
What makes this model a “water-quality model” in the context provided?
The opportunity describes a “hydrodynamic and water-quality model” with a strong emphasis on temperature dynamics and the use of real-time water-quality monitoring data as inputs. The stated expected outputs specifically include hydrodynamic behavior and water temperature time series.
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