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The BLM has worked with the Geological Society of America GeoCorps America Program for over 15 years to provide geoscientists, college students, professionals, and retirees, hands on experience in overall land management. The need for geoscience expertise is great. In many cases, geoscience is not adequately addressed in education, resource management, geological hazards mitigation, and other geological work on public lands. The GeoCorps program, dating from 1997, strives to increase the number of geoscientists able to provide educational outreach to a multitude of diverse land managers in order to address a more global approach for overall land management decisions and to raise the publicÿfds knowledge and awareness of the value of geoscience resources on public lands. The objective of this program is to continue to provide geoscientists, college students, professionals, and retirees, hands on experience in resource management, geological hazards mitigation, and other geological work related to overall land management in order to develop skills and abilities in geosciences.

This project will seek to produce geospatial products and corresponding reports/guidebooks to improve riparian-wetland resource management, including but not limited to the following general statewide needs: (1) New geospatial layers that represent riparian-wetland characteristics. Now that riparian-wetland mapping is nearly complete for most areas throughout the state, individual layers that represent unique riparian-wetland characteristics will maximize the utility of those efforts because the attributes that need to be considered for a project depend on the proposed actions and facilitating access to the various geospatial representations will enable resource specialists to analyze key features at multiple scales and thereby improve their ability to develop holistic management plans that include the physical, biological, and ecological components of riparian-wetland management. New geospatial layers should help groups across the state to develop Resource & Drought Management Plans, identify desired resource values (fisheries, water quality, wildlife, etc.), and describe the corresponding Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences sections of NEPA documents (or MEPA documents associated with Montana State authorizations under the Montana Environmental Policy Act). Examples of potential geospatial layers include: Risk/Vulnerability rating for livestock grazing during drought

The program is also responsible for implementing the following Secretarial Orders and will support: 1). S.O. 3347: Conservation Stewardship and Outdoor Recreation 2). S.O. 3356, Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting, and Wildlife Conservation Opportunities and Coordination with States, Tribes, and Territories 3). S.O. 3366, Increasing Recreational Opportunities on Lands and Waters Managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior BLM Montana/Dakotas has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist BLM with the following: 1. Increase and enhance access to public lands and waters. 2. Increase and enhance hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities. 3. Increase and enhance recreational shooting opportunities. 4. Improve inventory, assessment and planning on public lands and waters. 5. Improve management, administration, and monitoring of public lands and waters. 6. Provide enriched visitor services, information, interpretation and education. 7. Enhance community-supported partnerships in tourism and marketing. 8. Protect visitor health and safety. 9. Improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. 10. Improve motorized and non-motorized trails including trail construction and maintenance; comprehensive travel and transportation inventory and assessment, planning management and monitoring

The principle purpose of this cooperative agreement is to support the use of the best available science, combined with engaging broad public partners, to inform the public, stakeholders, and the BLM on best management practices (BMPs) for implementing adaptive management techniques on public lands. Focus areas of the project include collecting and analyzing rangeland health and upland vegetation treatments data and providing outreach stakeholders on status and trends of resources and effectiveness of restoration efforts and BMPs on the management of working landscapes. Data collected from this cooperative agreement will be available to the public.

The purpose of this program is to collaborate on studies, projects and activities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will work with a partner(s) on mutually beneficial projects to help guide the BLM in the development of the resource management plan for Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument and help develop best management practices for Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. In the past the BLM has worked with a CESU to support paleontological inventory, study basalt lava flows and produce information for wayside exhibits about geology.

The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research on ⿿Characterizing Hybridization of the Pallid Sturgeon and Evaluating Analyses to Improve Species Identification and Assess the Threat of Introgression.⿝ Considerable uncertainty exists regarding the nature, frequency and extent of hybridization between the endangered pallid sturgeon and the common shovelnose sturgeon throughout its range. Resolving this uncertainty is crucial to developing management strategies to recover endangered sturgeon and to prioritize management actions in the large river ecosystems where they reside. Current genetic markers and analyses are insufficient to adequately characterize hybridization between these species and research is needed to identify pathways forward to rapidly develop cost-effective genetic tools.

The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research on ⿿Characterizing Hybridization of the Pallid Sturgeon and Evaluating Analyses to Improve Species Identification and Assess the Threat of Introgression.⿝ Considerable uncertainty exists regarding the nature, frequency and extent of hybridization between the endangered pallid sturgeon and the common shovelnose sturgeon throughout its range. Resolving this uncertainty is crucial to developing management strategies to recover endangered sturgeon and to prioritize management actions in the large river ecosystems where they reside. Current genetic markers and analyses are insufficient to adequately characterize hybridization between these species and research is needed to identify pathways forward to rapidly develop cost-effective genetic tools.

The GIP and MIS youth internship programs provide opportunities for geoscientists and other natural resource scientists to assist with inventorying, monitoring, research, and interpretation/education projects on lands administered by the NPS. The projects and work products enable the participants, public, and park staff to gain a better understanding of the natural resources in NPS units and assist park staff with managing its resources using sound science. The National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the President of the United States have sought to increase science-based resource management in national park units, to improve the understanding of resources and incorporation of such information by park managers in making decisions, to improve the quality of information given to the public, and to increase the number of NPS partners and volunteers helping parks. The actions to be undertaken will help address numerous NPS GPRA goals. Hiring interns through the GIP Program addresses unmet geoscience needs identified by parks, regions, networks, and central offices and advances the Departments of the Interior¿s and NPS¿ diversity and youth initiatives. The NPS benefits from addressing identified NPS objectives through the program partner, The Geological Society of America which has similar education and outreach goals.

The BLM manages several million acres of land statewide as well as several thousand cultural and paleontological locations. Presently, the BLM Alaska Cultural and Paleontological staff has a limited ability to conduct specialized and detailed paleo-environmental analyses of these localities to obtain this kind of information as part of its management decision making. Therefore, the BLM needs to rely on an experienced partner institution in the CESU program to conduct detailed paleo-environmental analyses of cultural and non-cultural locations. These analyses would gather information about the timing of geological and ecological events that could have had a significant effect on prehistoric cultural or paleontological resources managed by the BLM in Alaska. The principal purpose/objective of this project is to collect, analyses, and curate paleo-environmental data obtained from environmental sampling through a variety of means. These means may include sediment coring, shovel testing, excavation or any other scientifically valid method for collecting paleo-environmental data. Analyses may include pollen analysis, soil chemistry, radiocarbon dating or any other scientifically valid laboratory analysis.

The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) provides technical assistance in (1) identifying science-based management options for restoration and protection of living resources and their habitats; (2) monitoring and assessing the status of living resources and their habitats; and, (3) evaluating the effectiveness of management plan implementation. For FY 2018, it is anticipated that up to approximately $500,000 could be made available for projects that address funding priorities identified in the Program Priority Section (I.B.) NCBO encourages projects that are collaborative, interdisciplinary, and will leverage other resources. Preference will be given to projects with clear management application. An informational webinar about the FY 2018 Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Research Program funding announcement will be held on March 2, 2018 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. To register for the webinar, visit the "Hot Topic" article about this grant announcement on the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Homepage: http://go.usa.gov/xKth5

This project will develop an Ethnographic Overview and Assessment (EOA) baseline cultural anthropological study which aims to document traditional associations between distinct cultural communities and landscapes, places or resources. In partnering with traditionally associated tribes and distinct cultural communities, this project will identify and provide descriptions of resources and sites of cultural importance within Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, from the perspective of the associated groups themselves. A key goal of this project will be to provide baseline ethnographic documentation in a manner that is accessible to park staff and visitors, researchers and managers, interpreters and educators. To date, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument has never conducted an EOA. Ethnographic research is essential to preserve, manage and interpret Florissant Fossil Beds National Monumentâ¿¿s cultural and natural resources in an effective, culturally informed manner. This project will identify and document culturally significant resources and contribute to the development and implementation of culturally appropriate resource management strategies at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

US Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU parnter to develop a synthesis of knowledge that clearly identifies what is known and not known about the response of Northwest forest communities to changing fires regimes. This synthesis will provide an important resource for regional managers and help identify future science opportunities for the NW CSC to pursue. In particular, managers need information about how climate change will affect fire regimes and what plant communities will return after stand-replacing fires. This information is critical for development of post-fire restoration projects and forest management plans.

Background: Native American Tribes have specific cultural and religious ties to the land and landscapes. In Montana and North and South Dakota that means that much of the physical environment has meaning and significance to tribes. BLM manages and authorizes activities on this landscape. To understand the tribal specific ties to the land it is important to understand the significance of the landscape to tribes including where Sacred sites and Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs) are located. The proposed program in the Spring Creek area will address this need and will provide a mechanism to rediscover sites of religious and cultural importance to tribes. Objectives: Facilitate Identification of TCPs and Sacred Sites important to the tribes. The recipient will conduct field work and record historic properties to assist with special expertise to help recognize and evaluate eligibility of sites, especially TCPs or Sacred sites for areas in their Aboriginal Territories beginning with the Spring Creek area which will be 1350 acres. The information will be invaluable to determine significance of sites and for tribes to re-establish connections to places they have heard about in their oral tradition. This information also contributes to our knowledge of our National Heritage. The information will provide background and holistic use information for future management of public lands. Public Benefit: These potential TCPs and Sacred sites are important because they give us a more complete picture of our National Heritage. The project will benefit the general public, by giving the tribes the chance to share important cultural information to assist in better management of important sites and areas on the landscape and a contribution to our National Heritage. These sites are irreplaceable.

This solicitation seeks the services of a qualified organization to manage and operate an Ocean Bottom Seismometer Instrument Center established and sponsored by Marine Geology and Geophysics research programs within NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences. Research activities requiring the use of the existing pool of instruments supported by NSF are expected to continue well beyond the period of performance for the existing Ocean Bottom Seismometer Instrument Pool Management Office award, scheduled to expire in early 2018. The award resulting from this solicitation will be administered as a Cooperative Agreement with a single Lead Institution that will perform the OBSIC activities described herein.

Through a cooperative effort, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Roswell Field Office and the Recipient will work together to maintain, improve, explore and study Fort Stanton Cave resources within BLM New Mexico public lands, as well as seek and use the skills, knowledge, and expertise in Recipient organization to plan, develop, and implement cave management and conservation efforts with BLM New Mexico. BLM benefited greatly from an existing Assistance Agreement that helps BLM manage this world-class cave system.

The Colorado State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seeks to develop partnerships that improve access to and use of heritage resources and that promote their educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational values in a manner that meets U.S. Department of Interior priorities and Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Program goals. The Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Resources Management Program achieves these goals by: - Protecting and preserving cultural heritage and paleontological resources for the benefit of future generations; - Improving professional and/or public understanding of the nation's cultural and natural history; - Providing educational, recreational, and economic opportunities for local communities and the public; - Increasing American Indian access to locations and natural resources important to traditional cultural practices and beliefs; and - Managing heritage resource collections and associated records to appropriate standards, and providing access to the public and American Indians. For more information on how to apply, please visit www.grants.gov to download the full announcement, instructions, and application package.

NSF hereby solicits proposals to manage and operate one or more components of the National Geophysical Observatory for Geoscience (NGEO). NGEO would comprise a distributed, multi-user, national facility for the development, deployment, management, and operational support of modern geodetic, seismic, and related geophysical instrumentation and services to serve national goals in basic research and education in the Earth sciences. In addition, NGEO would support mission goals of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for global real-time earthquake, volcano, and tsunami observations, early warning and hazard mitigation efforts, nuclear test ban verification, precise positioning and timing, and other Earth observation needs. NGEO would also support commercial and international groups that depend on NGEO capabilities for an increasingly wide range of applications.

NSF hereby solicits proposals to manage and operate one or more components of the National Geophysical Observatory for Geoscience (NGEO). NGEO would comprise a distributed, multi-user, national facility for the development, deployment, management, and operational support of modern geodetic, seismic, and related geophysical instrumentation and services to serve national goals in basic research and education in the Earth sciences. In addition, NGEO would support mission goals of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for global real-time earthquake, volcano, and tsunami observations, early warning and hazard mitigation efforts, nuclear test ban verification, precise positioning and timing, and other Earth observation needs. NGEO would also support commercial and international groups that depend on NGEO capabilities for an increasingly wide range of applications.

This solicitation seeks the services of a qualified organization to manage and operate an Ocean Bottom Seismometer Instrument Center established and sponsored by Marine Geology and Geophysics research programs within NSF’s Division of Ocean Sciences. Research activities requiring the use of the existing pool of instruments supported by NSF are expected to continue well beyond the period of performance for the existing Ocean Bottom Seismometer Instrument Pool Management Office award, scheduled to expire in early 2018. The award resulting from this solicitation will be administered as a Cooperative Agreement with a single Lead Institution that will perform the OBSIC activities described herein.

This solicitation seeks the services of a qualified organization to manage and operate an Ocean Bottom Seismometer Instrument Center established and sponsored by Marine Geology and Geophysics research programs within NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences. Research activities requiring the use of the existing pool of instruments supported by NSF are expected to continue well beyond the period of performance for the existing Ocean Bottom Seismometer Instrument Pool Management Office award, scheduled to expire in early 2018. The award resulting from this solicitation will be administered as a Cooperative Agreement with a single Lead Institution that will perform the OBSIC activities described herein.

BLM NM manages archaeological and historic sites, artifact collections, places of traditional cultural importance to American Indians and other communities, and paleontological resources that occur on federal lands in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Collectively, these "heritage resources" represent thousands of years of human occupation, and millions of years of the earth's natural history. BLM Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Programs coordinate management, preservation, education and outreach efforts, economic opportunities, and public uses of a fragile, nonrenewable scientific record that represents an important component of America's heritage. Broadly, the objective is to develop partnerships to improve access to and use of heritage resources, and promote their educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational values in a manner that meets U.S. Department of Interior priorities and Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Program goals.