Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G26AS00157

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity about?

This opportunity from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC), supports applied research to help rangeland managers make more time-sensitive decisions under drought, wildfire risk, and invasive species pressure across the western United States. The focus is on producing practical, management-relevant drought and plant establishment forecasts that improve restoration timing and placement in dryland systems.

2) Who is offering the award?

The awarding agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC).

3) What type of award is this?

The award will be made as a Cooperative Agreement under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program, specifically the Colorado Plateau CESU. Cooperative agreements typically involve collaboration with USGS, with USGS involvement expected as part of the project.

4) Which CESU network does this opportunity use?

This opportunity is issued through the Colorado Plateau CESU.

5) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to affiliated, participating partners in the Colorado Plateau CESU network. The opportunity is not described as open competition to the general public; it is constrained to the CESU partner requirement (listed under eligible applicants as "Others" to reflect this structure).

6) How many awards are expected?

One award is expected.

7) What is the maximum funding available?

The maximum federal funding (award ceiling) is $480,000.

8) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The funding opportunity number is G26AS00157.

9) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 15.808.

10) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2026-08-12.

11) What is the application closing date?

The application closing date listed is 2026-09-12.

12) What geographic area does the project focus on?

The project targets western rangelands across the western United States, with an emphasis on broad, wall-to-wall coverage rather than isolated point locations.

13) What management challenges is the project trying to address?

The work is designed to support better decisions where drought, wildfire risk, and invasive species are rapidly changing rangeland conditions. It aims to improve the effectiveness of seeding and restoration investments by helping managers identify when and where conditions are most favorable for germination and early seedling survival.

14) Why is timing and placement of restoration treatments such a central issue?

In dryland systems, restoration often fails when soils are too dry for seeds to germinate and seedlings to survive. Because agencies have limited resources for seeding and other restoration work, the project emphasizes identifying favorable windows and locations to improve the odds of establishment.

15) What are the main research goals?

The project has two main goals: (1) expand an existing user-defined point drought forecasting tool into a gridded, wall-to-wall mapping system covering broad western rangelands; and (2) synthesize peer-reviewed science on plant establishment requirements for priority restoration species, especially soil moisture conditions that drive germination and early survival.

16) What does it mean to expand from a point tool to a gridded mapping system?

Instead of producing forecasts for isolated, user-selected points, the project will generate landscape-scale forecast maps that cover broad geographies. The intent is to support rapid, regional prioritization and coordination across jurisdictions using consistently produced, wall-to-wall outputs.

17) How often will forecasts and maps be updated?

The opportunity describes monthly, continuously updated forecasts and wall-to-wall simulations that are refreshed each month using real-time National Weather Service forecast data.

18) What data sources will drive the forecasting work?

The work will use real-time National Weather Service forecast data refreshed each month, translating weather and soil moisture forecasts into near-term ecological drought indicators and probabilities of seed establishment through spatial simulations.

19) What outputs are expected from the spatial simulations?

The simulations are intended to translate forecasted weather and soil moisture conditions into near-term ecological drought indicators and probabilities of seed establishment, delivered as forecast maps for western rangelands.

20) What is meant by "near-term ecological drought indicators" in this context?

Based on the description provided, these indicators are derived by converting forecasted weather and soil moisture conditions into measures that are directly relevant to ecological stress and restoration outcomes, rather than relying only on broad seasonal outlooks.

21) What are "seed establishment probabilities" and how are they used?

Seed establishment probabilities are outputs that link forecasted soil moisture and weather conditions to the likelihood that seeds can successfully germinate and that seedlings can survive early establishment. Managers can use these probabilities to prioritize where and when treatments may have better odds of success.

22) Why does the project emphasize species-specific establishment requirements?

Managers often need more than a drought map. The opportunity emphasizes guidance that connects forecasted conditions to species-specific thresholds for germination and early survival for commonly used restoration species, so species selection and treatment timing can better match expected conditions.

23) What will the literature synthesis deliverable include?

The project will produce a consolidated, usable summary of peer-reviewed literature describing establishment requirements for priority restoration species, with emphasis on soil moisture needs that influence germination and early survival.

24) What operational deliverables are expected?

The project will deliver continuously updated forecast maps for the western United States showing near-term ecological drought and seed establishment probabilities, derived from monthly updated, wall-to-wall simulations.

25) How are these products intended to be used by managers?

The products are intended to support rapid, landscape-scale assessments that help managers prioritize areas with better odds of regeneration, allocate crews and seed, and coordinate restoration actions across jurisdictions, including post-fire rehabilitation and invasive species management.

26) How does this opportunity relate to wildfire and restoration priorities?

The opportunity is framed as supporting federal priorities that include improving wildfire management, reducing wildfire risk through active management, and strengthening post-fire habitat restoration and big game habitat quality, with the practical focus on actionable drought and establishment forecasts.

27) Is the project described as purely scientific research or applied management support?

It is described as applied research with management-relevant deliverables, combining a science synthesis (species establishment requirements) with operational forecasting tools (monthly updated maps).

28) What makes this different from broad seasonal outlooks or localized point-based tools?

The opportunity emphasizes moving beyond broad seasonal outlooks and beyond localized point tools by producing monthly updated, wall-to-wall forecast maps across broad western rangelands that can inform near-term decisions.

29) What does "collaborative in nature with USGS involvement" imply?

Because the funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement under CESU, the work is expected to be collaborative, with USGS involvement typical of cooperative agreements (as described in the opportunity).

30) Are additional applications of the forecasting products mentioned?

Yes. The opportunity notes that these products build on forecasts already being used to target seeding for dryland restoration when conditions are favorable, and it states that additional applications are in development.