Cooperative Ecoystem Studies Unit, Great Plains CESU

 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research on refining monitoring techniques for sandbar habitats used by Interior Least Tern (Sterna antillarum athallassos) and Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) for nesting within the lower Platte River Basin. More specifically, the research will focus on a detailed sub-basin assessment of sandbar formation, persistence, and associated monitoring protocols at a larger spatial scale than used by USGS for its pilot study of this topic (Alexander et al. 2013). Research of primary interest includes refinement of rapid sandbar-monitoring techniques to (1) quantify with accuracy the field-determinations of nesting-habitat characteristics at sandbar formation/rejuvenation stage, and (2) evaluate habitat response to fluvial hydrogeomorphic processes and controls affecting sandbar persistence and fate. Unfortunately, adequate high-accuracy data are lacking at present to reliably inform resource-management decisions and resource-manager needs for (1) understanding river-channel conditions that favor persistence of high-quality tern and plover sandbar habitat, and (2) mapping and explaining the factors longitudinally that affect potential for high-quality tern and plover sandbar habitat formation in the lower Platte River.

Deleted 06/04/2014 (Archived.) G14AS00038 Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: Geological Survey Cooperative Agreement 1 This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESUĂ‚Âżs are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. 03/14/2014 This program does not have cost sharing or matching requirements. Faith Graves, 703-648-7356
fgraves@usgs.gov
http://www.grants.gov/ fgraves@usgs.gov $42,000.00