Opportunity Information: Apply for G25AS00326
This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G25AS00326) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program, specifically the Desert Southwest CESU. The project is research-focused and falls under Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA 15.808). Only organizations that are already participating partners in the Desert Southwest CESU are eligible to apply, meaning it is not an open solicitation to the general public or to non-CESU institutions.
The core purpose of the award is to support USGS science and monitoring needs along the Lower Colorado River by using remote sensing to track vegetation condition and water use in two related settings: (1) the unrestored riparian corridor of the Lower Colorado River and (2) the Multi-Species Conservation Plan (MSCP) restoration sites. The work is framed as a response to large-scale restoration implementation under the MSCP, including the planting of more than 100 restoration plots. Those plots are being evaluated through long-term experiments and monitoring, and this funding is intended to expand or strengthen the remote sensing component of that monitoring so that restoration progress and habitat development can be measured consistently over time and across sites.
From a technical standpoint, the USGS is seeking satellite-image-based measurement of two main metrics: vegetation greenup (often characterized through vegetation indices, or VIs) and actual evapotranspiration (ETa). Vegetation indices are used as indicators of plant vigor, greenness, and overall vegetation condition, while ETa is a direct indicator of water use by vegetation and evaporation from the land surface. The opportunity notes that the Department of the Interior and USGS have already developed algorithms for measuring water resources for natural and human uses, and this project is expected to apply or build on those established approaches to produce actionable monitoring outputs for the river corridor and restoration plots.
A major scientific driver of the work is understanding how riparian vegetation responds to water availability under contrasting conditions. Specifically, USGS and the Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) need data to evaluate how (a) unrestored riparian vegetation and (b) native vegetation within restoration sites respond to added water and to drought. Another stated need is to understand how water deliveries affect riparian vegetation health from year to year and across consecutive growing seasons, which implies an emphasis on interannual variability, seasonal patterns, and longer-term trends rather than a single snapshot assessment.
The requested deliverables are oriented around time-series monitoring and trend analysis. The USGS wants repeated, consistent measurements of greenup and VI-based ETa over time, with two parallel uses: first, assembling time-series datasets suitable for analyzing trends (for example, whether greenness and water use are increasing, stable, or declining across years), and second, supporting ongoing monitoring of all MSCP restoration activities using the same two metrics so sites can be compared and tracked as they mature. In addition to documenting current and past conditions, the opportunity also calls for estimating future trajectories for each metric using drought indices, which suggests integrating satellite-derived vegetation and ETa products with drought indicators to project or anticipate how vegetation condition and water use may change under increasing dryness or water stress.
Administratively, this is issued as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the period of performance. In practice, that often means closer coordination with USGS scientists, alignment with SBSC monitoring requirements, and shared planning around methods, data products, and reporting. The notice lists an award ceiling of $99,000. The posting shows an original closing date of 2025-08-10 and a creation date of 2025-07-10, indicating a relatively short application window typical of targeted CESU opportunities meant to fill a specific, near-term research and monitoring need.
In plain terms, this opportunity is funding a CESU partner to help USGS monitor Lower Colorado River riparian ecosystems by turning satellite data into reliable indicators of vegetation health (greenness/greenup) and water use (ETa), then using those indicators to evaluate restoration performance, understand responses to water deliveries and drought, and forecast likely future patterns using drought indices.Apply for G25AS00326
- The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $99,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The funding opportunity number is G25AS00326.
Which federal agency is offering this award?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement (not a standard grant). A cooperative agreement typically involves substantial federal involvement during the project period, such as coordination with USGS staff on methods, products, and reporting.
Is this an open solicitation to the general public?
No. This is not an open solicitation to the general public.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only organizations that are already participating partners in the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program are eligible to apply. Non-CESU institutions are not eligible under the terms described.
Which CESU Network is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is issued under the Desert Southwest CESU.
What is the CFDA/assistance listing number and program area?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808 and is characterized as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The purpose is to support USGS science and monitoring needs along the Lower Colorado River by using remote sensing to track vegetation condition and water use. The work targets two settings: (1) the unrestored riparian corridor of the Lower Colorado River and (2) Multi-Species Conservation Plan (MSCP) restoration sites.
What geographic area and ecosystem are the focus?
The focus is the Lower Colorado River riparian corridor, including both unrestored riparian areas and MSCP restoration sites.
What restoration program is tied to this work?
The work is tied to the Multi-Species Conservation Plan (MSCP), which includes large-scale restoration implementation and the planting of more than 100 restoration plots being evaluated through long-term experiments and monitoring.
What role does remote sensing play in this project?
Remote sensing is used to generate consistent, repeatable satellite-based measurements that allow USGS to monitor restoration progress and habitat development over time and across multiple sites.
What specific measurements is USGS seeking from satellite imagery?
USGS is seeking satellite-image-based measurement of two main metrics: (1) vegetation greenup (often characterized using vegetation indices, or VIs) and (2) actual evapotranspiration (ETa).
What are vegetation indices (VIs) in the context of this opportunity?
Vegetation indices are satellite-derived indicators used to characterize plant vigor, greenness, and overall vegetation condition. In this opportunity, they are used to represent vegetation greenup and to support consistent monitoring through time.
What does ETa mean, and why is it important here?
ETa refers to actual evapotranspiration, which is a direct indicator of water use by vegetation and evaporation from the land surface. It is important for understanding how riparian vegetation uses water under differing water availability, including added water deliveries and drought conditions.
Is the project expected to use existing USGS/DOI methods?
Yes. The opportunity notes that the Department of the Interior and USGS have already developed algorithms for measuring water resources for natural and human uses, and the project is expected to apply or build on those established approaches.
What scientific questions or management needs are driving the work?
The work is driven by the need to understand how riparian vegetation responds to water availability under contrasting conditions. This includes evaluating responses of unrestored riparian vegetation and native vegetation within restoration sites to added water and to drought, and understanding year-to-year effects of water deliveries across consecutive growing seasons.
Which USGS center is specifically mentioned as needing these data?
The Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) is specifically mentioned as needing data to evaluate vegetation responses and to support monitoring requirements.
What kinds of deliverables are expected?
Deliverables are oriented around time-series monitoring and trend analysis. USGS is seeking repeated, consistent measurements of greenup and VI-based ETa over time, suitable for (1) assembling time-series datasets for trend analysis and (2) supporting ongoing monitoring of all MSCP restoration activities so sites can be compared and tracked as they mature.
Does the project emphasize one-time mapping or ongoing monitoring?
The project emphasizes ongoing monitoring, with repeated and consistent measurements across time rather than a single snapshot assessment.
What does the opportunity mean by "trend analysis"?
Trend analysis refers to using time-series datasets to evaluate whether metrics like greenness/greenup and water use (ETa) are increasing, stable, or declining across years and across sites.
Are projections or forecasts part of the requested work?
Yes. The opportunity calls for estimating future trajectories for each metric using drought indices, implying integration of satellite-derived vegetation and ETa products with drought indicators to project likely changes under increasing dryness or water stress.
What is meant by using drought indices in this project?
Based on the description, drought indices would be used alongside satellite-derived vegetation and ETa metrics to estimate future trajectories of vegetation condition and water use, supporting anticipation of how conditions may shift under drought or water stress.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $99,000.
What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The posting lists a creation date of 2025-07-10 and an original closing date of 2025-08-10.
How long is the application window based on the posted dates?
Based on the creation date (2025-07-10) and the original closing date (2025-08-10), the application window appears to be about one month, which is described as typical for targeted CESU opportunities addressing near-term needs.
What are the two main settings being monitored?
The two settings are (1) the unrestored riparian corridor of the Lower Colorado River and (2) the MSCP restoration sites.
How will this work support evaluation of MSCP restoration sites?
It is intended to expand or strengthen the remote sensing component of long-term experiments and monitoring so restoration progress and habitat development can be measured consistently over time and across sites, including comparison among sites as they mature.
What does "greenup" refer to in this opportunity?
Greenup refers to vegetation condition as it changes over time (often seasonally), characterized through vegetation indices that reflect greenness and vigor. The project seeks repeated measurements of greenup as part of a time-series monitoring approach.
Does the opportunity specify that ETa should be VI-based?
Yes. The deliverables are described as including repeated measurements of greenup and VI-based ETa over time.
What is implied by awarding this as a cooperative agreement?
It implies closer coordination and substantial involvement by USGS during the period of performance, including alignment with USGS scientists and SBSC monitoring requirements and shared planning around methods, data products, and reporting.
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