OARS funding Environmental Sustainability

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.

The GPLCC Steering Committee has identified several key issues of concern and science priorities for prairie rivers and streams in the Great Plains. Specifically, three categories of science needs have been identified as priorities for the GPLCC for Fiscal Year 2013 funding. The first science category focuses on the need for applied research to fill critical knowledge gaps on the status and trends of priority species (see Table 1 below) and habitats in prairie rivers and streams of the Great Plains. This includes studies that examine the ecological requirements of priority species (and community-level interactions) that will help lead to the development of improved conservation strategies that support the long-term sustainability of populations of priority species. The second science category focuses on the need to fill critical knowledge gaps that support the development of water conservation and management strategies consistent with the ecological requirements of priority species. Examples include studies that examine the effects of climate change on hydrology and the functional processes that support maintenance of habitats for priority species, as well as studies that examine reservoir storage and release strategies and the related effects on populations of priority species in fragmented river segments. The third science category focuses on the need to fill critical knowledge gaps related to the effects of watershed alteration and fragmentation on the long-term sustainability of populations of priority species. This includes studies that examine projected trends in land use and related effects on species and habitats, and studies that support the development of improved habitat restoration techniques and strategies (e.g., restoration of springs, riparian buffers, and in-stream habitats, including in-stream connectivity and fish passage).

To provide environmental education programs to local area youth that meet state education benchmarks and standards.

The purpose of Pest Management Alternatives Program (PMAP) is to provide support for the development and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) practices, tactics, and systems for specific pest problems while reducing human and environmental risks. This purpose addresses the broad goals outlined in the "National Roadmap for Integrated Pest Management," developed by federal and non-federal IPM experts, practitioners, and stakeholders in 2004. The successful management of pest problems in commercial production is facing severe challenges due to regulatory changes, emergence of new pest problems, and the development of pest resistance to present management technologies. The greatest impact on current management technologies is in the production of specialty crops; however, other crops, including grain, forage and fiber, as well as animal health, are also being impacted by these changes.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System consists of estuarine areas of the United States and its territories which are designated and managed for research and educational purposes. Each reserve within the system is chosen to represent a different bio-geographic region and to include a variety of ecosystem types in accordance with the classification scheme of the national program as presented in 15 CFR Part 921. By funding designated reserve agencies and universities to conduct land acquisition and construction projects that support the NERRS purpose, NOAA will strengthen protection of key land and water areas, enhance long-term protection of the area for research and education, and provide for facility and exhibit construction that meet the highest sustainable design standards possible.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is intended to support environmental health research in which an unpredictable opportunity has arisen to collect human biosample or exposure data (e.g., following natural or made-made disasters, health care policy changes, etc). The three distinguishing features of an eligible study are: 1) the unforeseeable nature of the opportunity; 2) the clear scientific value and feasibility of the study; and 3) the need for rapid review and funding (substantially shorter than the typical NIH grant review/award cycle) in order for the scientific question to be approached and for the research design to be implemented.

The Idaho Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.

The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner to collect and analyze water quality variables and zooplankton, promote the use of innovative monitoring approaches and provide opportunities to students to participate in Lake Ontario research projects. This CESU project will provide support for two to three Lake Ontario 2013 student projects.

The objective of this project is to gather LiDAR data that will enable a multitude of agencies, organizations, and landowners to develop management plans that will minimize or eliminate degradation of public resources. Collected data will assist with the evaluation of silviculture and watershed restoration practices while also providing information on the potential impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) Inc. is pleased to announce the 2013 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the SFI® Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program. In 2013, SFI will award over $250,000 for projects supporting sustainable forestry, bringing total 2013 investments to $400,000 with previously awarded multi-year research grants. The SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program supports collaborative projects between non-profit organizations, SFI program participants and other stakeholders which support SFI objectives. Since 2010, SFI has awarded 33 grants for a total of over $1.32 million. Further, these funds are leveraged with other project partner contributions, for a total of just over $4.8 million in investments in these projects.

The Foundation is promoting Ray's legacy through its inspiration and funding of innovative, educational and project-based initiatives that advance the revolution in sustainable production and consumption. Through its Gray Notes Grants program, the foundation awards grants of between $2,000 and $25,000 for environmental conservation, preservation, education, and restoration initiatives; urban agriculture programs; clean water and clean air projects; environmental and economic think tanks; and grassroots initiatives that inform and inspire people to collaborate and take positive action to protect the planet. In addition, the program supports organizations and programs that are working with industry, government, and businesses to create environmentally sound planning practices to reduce the environmental footprint of urban development through energy efficiency, increased use of renewable energy, and the reduction of carbon intensity. We award grants in two categories: Grants to Environmental Initiatives and Nonprofits   Inquiries taken throughout 2013. Grants to Higher Education Research Programs (by invitation only).   Inquiries due March 28, 2013.

The objective of this project is to create a new macroinvertebrate bioassessment index that can be applied at both the regional and reach scales to make status determinations. A bioassessment index developed for use at multiple spatial scales would benefit multiple agencies, Federal, State, and local, as well as public and private organizations by giving them a tool that can help them identify sites/watersheds in need of protection, preservation and/or restoration. Use of aquatic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of stream condition can be incorporated into a decision-support model (DSM) which can be used as a method towards assessing overall watershed condition. The capacity of the DSM to make accurate condition and trend determinations is dependent upon the sensitivity of the individual attributes used to define watershed condition. Therefore, in the case of macroinvertebrates, it is critical to identify the optimal bioassessment index, as well as the factors influencing index performance.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is pleased to announce the development of the GoMRI Request for Proposals for 2015-2017 GoMRI Research Consortia. The purpose of the 2015-2017 GoMRI Research Consortia RFP, to be released in mid-November 2013, is to select the research activities for GoMRI Years 5-7 (1 January 2015-31 December 2017) involving Research Consortia, defined as a contractual arrangement between a PI and co-PIs at four or more institutions.The total funds available for distribution to Research Consortia through the 2015-2017 GoMRI Research Consortia RFP will be approximately $35 million per year. A RFP for individual and small research group investigations will be forthcoming in late 2014.

The US Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity to conduct research to understand how groundwater recharge in the Western United States might respond to possible climatic shifts over the next century. Using a wide variety of measurements and estimates, the goal of this research is to synthesize current understanding of recharge across the entire West, forecast future groundwater dynamics under climate change scenarios, and identify where there are missing data and knowledge gaps that prevent forecasting of groundwater recharge.

To plan, manage, implement and monitor Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation and hazardous fuels activities as they occur within the Great Basin and Mojave ecosystems. The project is a continuation of the ESR Program with the BLM partner Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC) which provides assistance in planning, managing, implementing, recording and documenting, and monitoring vegetation treatments for the hazardous fuels and emergency stabilization and rehabilitation (ES&R) activities. Emergency stabilization and rehabilitation projects are a result of wildfire activities and are generally funded for three years following the containment date of a wildland fire.

To plan, manage, implement and monitor Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation and hazardous fuels activities as they occur within the Great Basin and Mojave ecosystems. The project is a continuation of the ESR Program with the BLM partner Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC) which provides assistance in planning, managing, implementing, recording and documenting, and monitoring vegetation treatments for the hazardous fuels and emergency stabilization and rehabilitation (ES&R) activities. Emergency stabilization and rehabilitation projects are a result of wildfire activities and are generally funded for three years following the containment date of a wildland fire.

The Environmental Sustainability program supports engineering research with the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems. These systems provide ecological services vital for human survival. The long-term viability of natural capital is critical for many areas of human endeavor. Research in Environmental Sustainability typically considers long time horizons and may incorporate contributions from the social sciences and ethics.This program supports engineering research that seeks to balance society's need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic conditions.

The Fluid Dynamics program supports fundamental research and education on mechanisms and phenomena governing fluid flow. Proposed research should contribute to basic understanding; thus enabling the better design; predictability; efficiency; and control of systems that involve fluids. Encouraged are proposals that address innovative uses of fluids in materials development; manufacturing; biotechnology; nanotechnology; clinical diagnostics and drug delivery; sensor development and integration; energy and the environment. While the research should focus on fundamentals, a clear connection to potential application should be outlined.

The Environmental Engineering program supports fundamental research and educational activities across the broad field of environmental engineering. The goal of this program is to encourage transformative research which applies scientific and engineering principles to avoid or minimize solid, liquid, and gaseous discharges, resulting from human activity, into land, inland and coastal waters, and air, while promoting resource and energy conservation and recovery. The program also fosters cutting-edge scientific research for identifying, evaluating, and monitoring the waste assimilative capacity of the natural environment and for removing or reducing contaminants from polluted air, water, and soils.

The Particulate and Multiphase Processes program supports fundamental and applied research on phenomena governing particulate and multiphase processes, including flows of suspensions of particles, drops or bubbles, granular and granular-fluid flows, flow behavior of micro or nano-structured fluids, aerosol science and technology, and self- and directed-assembly processes involving particulates. Innovative research is sought that contributes to improving the basic understanding, design, predictability, efficiency, and control of particulate and multiphase processes with particular emphasis on: novel manufacturing techniques, multiphase systems of relevance to energy harvesting, multiphase transport in biological systems or biotechnology, and environmental sustainability.