Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00417

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a USGS-funded cooperative agreement offered through the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC). It is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program and is focused on research and monitoring methods for riparian areas on the Navajo Nation along the Little Colorado River.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The project aims to develop methods to predict two outcomes in riparian and groundwater-dependent settings: (1) green foliage cover (an indicator of vegetation condition and greenness) and (2) actual evapotranspiration (the real water use by vegetation and soils). The intent is to support repeatable monitoring that can be used over time for assessment and restoration tracking, not just a one-time map.

Where is the work geographically focused?

The work is focused on riparian areas on the Navajo Nation along the Little Colorado River, including tributaries and connected streams where restoration oversight and assessment are needed.

What are Culturally Important Riparian Areas (CIRA) in this context?

The riparian corridors in the project area are described as Culturally Important Riparian Areas (CIRA). This signals that the work is intended to support careful stewardship and restoration planning in places that have cultural significance, in addition to ecological and hydrological importance.

What exactly must be predicted or estimated?

The project calls for methods that can produce predictions/estimates of:

• Green foliage cover (a practical indicator of vegetation condition/greenness)
• Actual evapotranspiration (actual water use by vegetation and soils, not potential evapotranspiration)

What types of sites or vegetation categories should the predictions cover?

USGS is seeking predictions across three categories:

1. Existing land cover that already fits the CIRA definition
2. Future restoration locations within the CIRA that are planned to be planted and maintained with native species
3. Groundwater dependent ecosystems or species (GDEs) that occur away from the main river channel but still rely on groundwater inputs

Why include off-channel groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs)?

The project description highlights that some groundwater dependent ecosystems or species occur away from the main river channel but still depend on groundwater. Including them helps ensure monitoring does not miss important off-channel habitats that would be overlooked if attention stayed only within the main riparian corridor.

What technical approaches does USGS expect applicants to use?

The opportunity expects a heavy reliance on multi-source remote sensing methods that combine aerial and satellite imagery. It also encourages modern analytical approaches, including machine learning, to translate imagery into estimates of foliage cover and actual evapotranspiration.

What does "multi-source remote sensing" mean here?

It refers to combining imagery from different sources and platforms, including aerial and satellite data, using both high-resolution and medium-resolution imagery. The notice explicitly encourages blending or fusing data from different sensors to improve both accuracy and monitoring frequency.

Is data fusion explicitly encouraged?

Yes. The description explicitly encourages approaches that blend or "fuse" data from different sensors and platforms to improve monitoring accuracy and frequency.

Is machine learning required?

The opportunity indicates strong interest in machine learning and similar modern analytical methods for converting imagery into usable estimates. The text does not state it is mandatory, but it does clearly encourage these approaches.

Are field or ground-based methods allowed or expected?

Yes. The opportunity leaves room for and encourages feasible ground-based validation methods. This typically includes field observations or instrumentation that can be used to verify that remote-sensing-based predictions match real conditions in riparian settings.

What is meant by "actual evapotranspiration" in the opportunity description?

The description defines actual evapotranspiration as the real water use by vegetation and soils, as opposed to a theoretical potential rate. The project is specifically interested in estimating actual evapotranspiration for the target riparian and groundwater-dependent environments.

What is meant by "green foliage cover" and why is it important?

Green foliage cover is described as a practical indicator of vegetation condition and "greenness." Predicting it supports tracking vegetation status and change in riparian corridors and restoration areas.

What kinds of changes is the monitoring approach expected to detect?

The monitoring framework is intended to support near real-time evaluation of change driven by:

• Natural drivers such as seasonality, drought, floods, and vegetation succession
• Human-driven pressures such as land use change, water management impacts, disturbance, invasive species, and restoration activities

Is the project intended to support restoration monitoring?

Yes. The description emphasizes forward-looking restoration monitoring, including oversight and assessment of restoration work along tributaries and streams connected to the Little Colorado River. It specifically mentions tracking outcomes of planting and maintenance actions in areas targeted for native vegetation restoration.

Is the deliverable a one-time product or an ongoing monitoring method?

The description implies a major deliverable is the establishment of repeatable monitoring protocols that can be used into the future. The goal is not a one-time map, but a monitoring approach suitable for repeated use and near real-time change evaluation.

What kind of award instrument is this?

This opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement issued under the CESU program.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement under the CESU program?

The description notes that CESU cooperative agreements generally imply active involvement and collaboration between USGS and the recipient during the project, rather than a purely hands-off grant relationship.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to applicants categorized as "other" that are participating partners of the Desert Southwest CESU (identified as CESU #160). Organizations that are not already partners in the Desert Southwest CESU are not eligible under the stated eligibility limitation.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is G23AS00417.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA/Assistance Listing 15.808.

What is the funding category for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under the science and technology / research and development category.

What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?

The posted award ceiling is $23,144.

What were the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity record was created on June 13, 2023, and the original closing date listed was July 21, 2023.

Which USGS unit is offering this work?

The work is being offered through the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC).

Does the scope include only the main river corridor?

No. The scope includes riparian corridors along the Little Colorado River and also explicitly includes off-channel groundwater dependent ecosystems or species (GDEs) that rely on groundwater inputs away from the main river channel.