Funding Wizard

Background: The overall goal of this project is to improve water quality conditions in Willow Creek Reservoir for the benefit of the community in and surrounding Heppner, Oregon. Water quality issues that plague the lake include: dense cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae) blooms, low dissolved oxygen concentrations, and high nutrient concentrations. Blooms of cyanobacteria are known to produce toxins, thereby threatening the aquatic ecosystem and potentially exposing humans and animals to risk of death or chronic illness such as neurodegeneration and liver damage. Each summer, Willow Creek Reservoir is posted with health advisories warning users of the potential hazards associated with recreating on the lake. Furthermore, fish kills, foul odors and other nuisances are common in Willow Creek Reservoir affecting the community’s ambiance, limiting tourism and recreation on the lake. This analysis draws upon prior research, readily available data, and new research and data to develop and implement an evaluation program for the restoration of Willow Creek Reservoir and its upper basin. Research results will provide public benefit through enhanced water quality in Willow Creek Reservoir producing public recreation opportunities and natural resource benefits. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: Objective 1: Conduct biweekly monitoring of in- and outflows and a site in the reservoir to continue the long-term dataset development for Willow Creek Reservoir to support management decisions and evaluate their effectiveness if and when implemented. Objective 2: Develop a whole-lake hydrodynamic model to evaluate reservoir water quality trajectory under future management strategies. Objective 3: Re-evaluate the currently installed aeration system for efficiency, modification in operation (e.g., timing, or air vs pure oxygen) or deployment (physical location in reservoir, and specific configuration). Once evaluation of equipment is complete, efficacy of aeration system within the reservoir could lead to a long term study. Objective 4: Present research results at public and technical meetings to disseminate findings.

This is a joint Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for one cooperative agreement award, to be issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2358. The effort is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office, the DOE Vehicle Technologies Office, the U.S. Army Futures Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Each of these agencies support missions relevant to this announcement, including hydrogen fuel cell-battery powered hybrid vehicle development, emergency response and military operations. The development and deployment of a fuel cell-battery powered hybrid emergency relief truck could ultimately enhance their response capabilities. Expected benefits include clean, quiet operation, load-following microgrid- capable exportable power, water production, and heat. Under this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) ERDC- CERL is accepting applicants to build, test, and demonstrate a fuel cell-battery powered hybrid emergency relief truck. This FOA is an example of collaboration and coordination among federal agencies, per EPACT 2005, Title VIII on hydrogen. Instructions to Applicants:The complete FOA, application forms, and instructions are available for download at Grants.gov.Applications in response to this FOA shall be submitted by the application due date. Applications may be submitted by email or via the internet through Grants.gov.Applicants shall have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, register with the System of Award Management (SAM), and if submitting application via the internet, register with Grants.gov.See Section 4 of the FOA for complete application submission information.

Coastal wetlands are critical components of the coastal landscape, providing a number of important ecosystem services such as habitat, carbon sequestration, erosion control, and recreation and tourism. In recent years, the flood risk management services produced by coastal wetlands have been of interest to many coastal communities, and many new and ongoing coastal storm risk management studies are including coastal wetlands as components of the coastal storm risk management system. Additionally, wetland restoration activities are being integrated into navigational dredging operations, which will require understanding of the types and frequency of restoration actions required to maintain wetland function. Understanding wetland elevation dynamics and associated vegetation dynamics is critically important as wetland bathymetry and vegetation type and abundance are the two dominant factors that determine the ability of wetlands to attenuate waves and surge as well as provide other desired ecosystem services. However, questions remain as to the ability of coastal wetlands to sustain elevation and associated functions over USACE project lifecycles and what management actions to plan for to maintain coastal wetlands in the case natural processes are insufficient. USACE requires the ability to predict the response of coastal wetland elevation and vegetation changes in response to sea level rise, storms, restoration activities, and potential changes in system drivers over at least a 50 year project lifetime. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: The overall goal of this work is to incorporate coastal wetland accretion dynamics into an USACE process-based vegetation model currently being adapted for coastal wetland systems. Specific objectives of this work include: Determining critical processes included in existing accretion models to integrate with vegetation growth model and identification of coupling requirements for the models such as spatial scales and coupling time steps; Full integration of wetland accretion and vegetation models for one species; Incorporation of vegetation interspecies dynamics and competition to include the role of invasive species colonization and management on accretion processes; and Development of case studies and examples of applications of the integrated models in a project lifecycle context with a focus on sites in the southeastern US.

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, (USACE) intends to enter into a cooperative agreement with a non-federal, nonprofit entity for intern opportunities in the management and enhancement of natural resources and assistance in the water safety program at the Raystown Lake Project. The Corps anticipates an opportunity for two Conservation Interns. Activities include (1) activities in wildlife management, threatened and endangered species monitoring, fisheries management, wildlife habitat enhancement, forest management, and boundary inspection/maintenance; and (2) activities in water safety promotion, updating bulletin boards; maintaining life jacket loaner stations; organizing events; conducting interpretive programs and roving interpretation; writing news releases; possibly conducting media interviews (radio); promoting USACE safety campaigns; developing public service announcements and interacting with park visitors. This agreement is an opportunity to provide training and education opportunities for conservation interns (two-2) with fish and wildlife, forestry, or education studies backgrounds.

Required Work Objectives: The following objectives are required for this CESU-funded project, which is to better understand the design and deployment of EWN solutions for western resilience. Year one (1) will establish the initial structure of the project and includes tasks that support the following objectives. If funded, year two (2) and year (3) would continue to expand major elements of the project and build a diverse portfolio of collaborative EWN projects and engagements. Objective 1: Development of decision-ready models that advance EWN and the deployment/use of natural infrastructure. This objective prioritizes and subsequently builds a suite of diverse, collaborative R&D projects that expands current research efforts within EWN portfolio. For example, projects pursued may be focused on advancing the development of models and decision analyses for assessing the costs and benefits associated with the deployment of natural infrastructure to balance water supplies and improve flood control. Research that focuses on increasing storage and flood protection in a) wetlands, swamps and associated riparia, b) overdrawn aquifers, and c) on farmlands and forests on public and private lands is also encouraged. The breadth of projects is strengthened by the caliber of multi-disciplinary researchers that integrate capabilities, resources, and expertise to target very deliberative endpoints that advance EWN research. During the first year, it is anticipated that researchers associated with USACE and the selected team will initiate 3-5 R&D EWN projects, which ultimately lead to expanded technology transfer opportunities. Objective 2: Identification and Proposed Use of EWN Techniques and Natural Infrastructure to Facilitate Improvements to Land Use and Water Management. Water is in high demand in the southwestern US. As such, it is imperative that new methods be identified to conserve, equitably distribute, and improve the quality of water. Innovative approaches to land use and associated practices in water management are important factors that should be considered in achieving these previously described outcomes. Research within this objective will explore use of innovative EWN approaches on a basin scale and identify opportunities for deploying natural infrastructure in a way that results in environmental and social benefits across a variety of land uses – central to these EWN approaches is the goal of improving water management/security (i.e., conservation, equitable distribution and water quality improvements). Moreover, research activities will focus on the identification and analysis of cost-effective natural infrastructure with assessments for how this infrastructure could be distributed to deliver value to historically under-represented communities. Finally, this objective seeks to establish research projects that integrate a diverse number of collaborators, in addition to the core participants (i.e., members of the successful team and USACE’s EWN researchers). It is expected that 2 to 3 projects would be identified and actively pursued in the first year. Objective 3: Launch and Operate EWN Communication Platform for Enhanced Public Communication. A successful communication platform will result in the timely delivery of informational products and/or engagements across the EWN network. This objective seeks to optimize and integrate the collaborators’ proven methods of delivering products and/or successful engagements that advance EWN strategic outcomes for the public benefit. Example products include, but are not limited to: workshops, symposia, news articles, videos, documentaries, graphics, reporting of case studies, technical notes, journal articles, etc. The selected team will work with EWN leadership and researchers to prepare most (if not all) of the referenced products. During the first year, it is expected that a minimum of 2 workshops/symposia, 1 video, 2 or 3 tech notes and 2 journal articles will be produced through a highly successful collaboration. The products derived from this collaboration are expected to generate EWN educational and public outreach opportunities. A successful application would likely include a team of investigators with knowledge in a broad array of disciplines including, but not limited to hydrology and hydraulics; multi-objective optimization; flood mitigation; water supply planning; reservoir operations; watershed, flood, and sediment transport modeling; decision support tools; forest fires, and forest management. Additionally, experience should include, but not be limited to the following: Engineering With Nature®; development, design, and implementation of nature-based strategies and best management practices; erosion and reservoir infilling, modeling of restoration projects; incorporating human-use benefits into infrastructure projects; quantifying benefits derived from restoration projects; and modeling of riverine and reservoir systems.

Section I: Funding Opportunity Description Background: There is a critical need for modular, local, and resilient energy solutions, or microgrids, for organizations operating in austere environments and areas affected by natural disaster. Current practices run these locations on diesel fuel, which incurs high cost and forces large transportation efforts for resupply. The development of integrated microgrids to provide power offers a vital solution. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: The objective of this project is to collaborate with a CESU partner to develop a facility to research, analyze and test new methods of providing resilient energy, integrating food and water systems that improve the effectiveness of the entire energy system. This facility will essentially consist of an open space where newly emerging microgrid technologies can be set up for testing and demonstrations. The intent is for any infrastructure associated to be temporary or modular. The primary component of the facility will be the necessary equipment to supply and monitor electrical loads. This facility will be referred to as the microgrid living laboratory and the intent is that once established the CESU partner, the government and any member of the microgrid industry that has technology to test will be able to access the laboratory. To accomplish these program level objectives, a microgrid living laboratory will be developed at an optimally situated site, with a minimum of 20 acres available to develop, as a collaboration between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and CESU partner. A microgrid living laboratory focuses on real-world solutions to the energy sustainability and energy security problems found in ecosystems world-wide. Examples of modular, portable energy systems to be developed on the site include: energy-efficient, Structurally-Insulated Panel (SIP) huts; a solar array; energy storage; and power generation equipment. Integrated microgrids will give the opportunity to study energy systems as a part of a microgrid living laboratory, accelerating energy research by de-risking and testing techniques before deploying them in the field. ERDC-CERL will combine research performed at the CESU partner’s land with existing research from ERDC Forward Operating Base Laboratory (EFOB-L) and Contingency Basing Integration Training and Evaluation Center (CBITEC) to increase safety and energy resiliency throughout the Army by developing and demonstrating a microgrid living laboratory from a new perspective in a strategic location that is located in an area where there are climate difference and other such variables. Data comparisons of tested technologies will be made to ensure that there is consistency across the locations. EFOB-L and CBITEC are located in the midwestern portion of the United States so a location on the west coast is ideal. The objectives specific to the CESU partner institution are as follows: a. Provide technical oversight and lead the development of the microgrid living laboratory as described above in order to manage federal resources effectively. b. Design a data collection plan for any technology to be tested at the site that is scalable for the industry as a whole, as well as meets DoD requirements, so all data collected can be integrated with existing and future data in order to provide usable knowledge to support informed decision making. c. Provide guidance on infrastructure constructed at the site to ensure they are compatible with infrastructure currently deployed and tested by the industry as a whole, as well as within Army testbeds, in order to create and maintain effective partnerships among federal agencies and universities. Public Benefit: The public will benefit from a microgrid living laboratory by the increase of solutions on new and upcoming technologies within the field of energy security. The data found through this study will have direct correlation with technologies that can be used in humanitarian support as well as providing energy security to public locations in austere environments. The results of this study will also drive decisions made during natural disaster relief by providing viable renewable and resilient energy solutions. The microgrid living laboratory will also drive the development of renewable energy enabling technologies, which provides an opportunity for collaboration across industry, Academia and the DoD. Section II: Award Information Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for studies to be sponsored by the Engineer Research and Development Center to develop a microgrid living laboratory on the minimum of a 20-acre plot of land in west coast region of the United States. The estimated level of funding for FY22 is approximately $3,000,000, to be executed within 12 months after award. Additional funds for this effort are not anticipated at this time. Government Involvement: The government will provide guidance on developing a microgrid living laboratory, provide the insight to design a sustainable infrastructure, and provide guidance on power generation plans. Also, the government will provide a data collection plan that is scalable and consistent with current data collection within the DoD. Section III: Eligibility Information a. Eligible Applicants – This opportunity is restricted to non-federal partners of the Californian and Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Units (CESU). b. Cost Sharing – This action will be 100% funded by USACE. Section IV: Application and Submission Information - Two Phase Process Phase I: Submission of a Statement of Interest/Qualifications: Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to: CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil (Maximum length: 2 pages, single-spaced 12 pt. font). Name, Organization and Contact Information 2. Brief Statement of Qualifications (including): Biographical Sketch, Relevant past projects and clients with brief descriptions of these projects, Staff, faculty or students available to work on this project and their areas of expertise, Any brief description of capabilities to successfully complete the project you may wish to add (e.g. equipment, laboratory facilities, greenhouse facilities, field facilities, etc.). This must include addressing the need for a minimum of 20 acres of land. Note: A proposed budget is NOT requested at this time. Phase I responses shall be submitted NO LATER THAN noon CST on 12 November 2021. The administrative point of contact is Andrea Thomas, CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil Based on a review of the Statements of Interest received, an investigator or investigators will be invited to move to Phase II which is to prepare a full study proposal. Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s specific experience and capabilities in areas related to the study requirements. Phase II: Submission of a complete application package to include a full technical proposal including budget, if invited. Address to Request Application Package: The complete funding opportunity announcement, application forms, and instructions are available for download at Grants.gov. The administrative point of contact is Andrea Thomas, CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil 2.Content and Form of Application Submission: All mandatory forms and any applicable optional forms must be completed in accordance with the instructions on the forms and the additional instructions below. SF 424 R&R - Application for Federal Assistance Full Technical Proposal – Discussion of the nature and scope of the research and technical approach. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, data and facilities, and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included. Cost Proposal/Budget – Clear, concise, and accurate cost proposals reflect the offeror’s financial plan for accomplishing the effort contained in the technical proposal. As part of its cost proposal, the offeror shall submit cost element breakdowns in sufficient detail so that a reasonableness determination can be made. The SF 424 Research & Related Budget Form can be used as a guide. The cost breakdown should include the following, if applicable: Direct Labor: Direct labor should be detailed by level of effort (i.e. numbers of hours, etc.) of each labor category and the applicable labor rate. The source of labor rates shall be identified and verified. If rates are estimated, please provide the historical based used and clearly identify all escalation applied to derive the proposed rates. Fringe Benefit Rates: The source of fringe benefit rate shall be identified and verified. Travel: Travel costs must include a purpose and breakdown per trip to include destination, number of travelers, and duration. Materials/Equipment: List all material/equipment items by type and kind with associated costs and advise if the costs are based on vendor quotes and/or engineering estimates; provide copies of vendor quotes and/or catalog pricing data. Subrecipient costs: Submit all subrecipient proposals and analyses. Provide the method of selection used to determine the subrecipient. Tuition: Provide details and verification for any tuition amounts proposed. Indirect Costs: Currently the negotiated indirect rate for awards through the CESU is 17.5%. Any other proposed costs: The source should be identified and verified. 3.Application package shall be submitted NO LATER THAN noon CST on 30 November 2021. 4.Submission Instructions: Applications may be submitted by e-mail or via Grants.gov, however e-mail submissions are preferred. Choose ONE of the following submission methods: EMAIL: Format all documents to print on Letter (8 ½ x 11”) paper. E-mail proposal to CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil with the Funding Opportunity Number clearly identified, preferably in the email subject line. b. Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/: Applicants are not required to submit proposals through Grants.gov. However, if applications are submitted via the internet, applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Grants.gov proposal submission is received in its entirety. All applicants choosing to use Grants.gov to submit proposals must be registered and have and account with Grants.gov. It may take up to three weeks to complete Grants.gov registration. For more information on registration, go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html. Section V: Application Review Information Peer or Scientific Review Criteria: In accordance with DoDGARs 22.315(c), an impartial peer review will be conducted. Subject to funding availability, all proposals will be reviewed using the criteria listed below (technical and cost/price). All proposals will be evaluated under the following two criteria which are of descending importance. a. Technical (items i. and ii. are of equal importance): i. Technical merits of proposed R&D. ii. Potential relationship of proposed R&D to DoD missions. b. Cost/Price: Overall realism of the proposed costs will be evaluated. 2. Review and Selection Process a. Categories: Based on the Peer or Scientific Review, proposals will be categorized as Selectable or Not Selectable (see definitions below). The selection of the source for award will be based on the Peer or Scientific Review, as well as importance to agency programs and funding availability. i. Selectable: Proposals are recommended for acceptance if sufficient funding is available. ii. Not Selectable: Even if sufficient funding existed, the proposal should not be funded. Note: The Government reserves the right to award some, all, or none of proposals. When the Government elects to award only a part of a proposal, the selected part may be categorized as Selectable, though the proposal as a whole may not merit such a categorization. b. No other criteria will be used. c. Prior to award of a potentially successful offer, the Grants Officer will make a determination regarding price reasonableness. Section VI: Award Administration Information Award Notices: Written notice of award will be given in conjunction with issuance of a cooperative agreement signed by a Grants Officer. The cooperative agreement will contain the effective date of the agreement, the period of performance, funding information, and all terms and conditions. The recipient is required to sign and return the document before work under the agreement commences. Work described in this announcement SHALL NOT begin without prior authorization from a Grants Officer. 2.Administrative Requirements: The cooperative agreement issued as a result of this announcement is subject to the administrative requirements in 2 CFR Subtitle A; 2 CFR Subtitle B, Ch. XI, Part 1103; and 32 CFR Subchapter C, except Parts 32 and 33. 3.Reporting: See 2 CFR Sections 200.327 for financial reporting requirements, 200.328 for performance reporting requirements, and 200.329 for real property reporting requirements.

Background: The government seeks research and technical support for the development and demonstration of molecular tools to assess at-risk species occurrence, genomics, and disease risk on military installations from which samples were collected (Fort McCoy, WI, and Camp Grayling, MI). Exact analyses conducted and the need for additional sample collection will be decided based upon input from installation, ERDC-CERL, and CESU partners. It is anticipated that results from these analyses will be relevant for management throughout the focal species ranges. Details of primary tasks are as follows: Task 1: DNA metabarcoding to assess freshwater aquatic communities Fort McCoy, WI comprises 4,400 acres of wetlands (NRCT, 2015) that harbor diverse communities, including a number of at-risk species such as wood turtle, Glyptemys insculpta, Blanding’s turtle, Emydoidea blandingii, and four amphibian species considered to be either state endangered (i.e., Blanchard’s cricket frog, Acris blanchardi) or species of special concern (i.e., the four-toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum; the pickerel frog, Lithobates palustris; and the northern leopard frog, Lithobates pipiens). In addition, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources currently regulates 99 aquatic invasive species (64 animals and 35 plants) that pose a risk to Fort McCoy’s freshwater ecosystems. Understanding where these at-risk and invasive species occur across the installation is a first step in determining effective management strategies. Ponds, ephemeral pools, and streams throughout Fort McCoy will be sampled at three time periods (spring, summer, and fall) during 2022. Specific sampling locations and timing will be determined in consultation with CERL and Fort McCoy Natural Resources Branch staff, based on the natural history of focal species, historical records, and availability of suitable habitat. Sampling estimates include 10 – 30 locations per sampling period with three replicate water samples collected in 1-liter bottles at each location and stored on ice. Sampling effort will include a 1-liter bottle of molecular-grade water at each site to serve as a control. Water samples will be filtered using a vacuum pump through 0.80 μm cellulose nitrate filter. Filters will be stored in vials of cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) buffer until DNA extraction. DNA will be extracted from sample filters using a modified phenol–chloroform–isoamyl alcohol extraction (Renshaw et al., 2015)— a commonly used method to isolate DNA from substrates containing high levels of PCR inhibitors (e.g., humic substances), which can inhibit downstream applications (Alaeddini, 2012; Turner et al., 2014; Eichmiller et al., 2015). Extracted DNA will be quantified via Qubit fluorometry before generating community metabarcode data via a multi-primer/locus approach (e.g., Evans et al., 2015; Corse et al., 2019). Vertebrate, plant and invertebrate primer sets will be used to generate sequence reads for each eDNA sample collected. Task 2: DNA analyses of bacterial pathogens of ticks to assess disease risk. Ticks are renowned as vectors of disease-causing agents to humans and responsible for nearly 95% of vector-borne diseases in the United States (Eisen et al. 2017). In particular, Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., can result in devastating human health consequences. Soldiers involved in training exercises, as well as installation natural resources personnel, can be particularly at risk due to their increased contact with vectors encountered on military ranges (Garcia et al. 2017). Tick species will be sampled on Fort McCoy, WI, via cloth dragging and CO2 trap cloths. Sample sites will be determined based on habitat suitability for tick species and input from CERL and Fort McCoy personnel. At each site, five standard 150-m transects will be established in suitable tick habitat (e.g., leaf litter or grass present in deciduous/mixed forest or ecotonal edge between forest and grassland with evidence of animal activity). These transects will be revisited seasonally (spring, summer, fall) with specific timing dependent on weather and access. A subsample of 50 ticks will be included in pathogen analyses. Pathogen diagnostics will be performed via DNA extraction and amplification using standard RT-PCR methods in a BSL-2/ACL-3 lab. Ixodes scapularis samples will be tested using a CDC screening algorithm for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., Borrelia miyamotoi, and Ehrlichia muris euclairensis. Task 3: DNA metabarcoding to identify plant-pollinator interactions. Pollinator biomonitoring is critical to both assess the status and trend of at-risk pollinators and evaluate the impacts of biodiversity loss on ecosystem services. Fort McCoy, WI, houses two federally endangered pollinators, the Karner Blue butterfly (Lycaedis melissa samuelis) and the Rusty Patched Bumblebee (Bombus afinis). Fort McCoy is also home to several other pollinator species of conservation concern including the Ottoe Skipper (Hesperia ottoe; state endangered), Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia; state endangered), Frosted Elfin butterfly (Callophrys irus; state threatened), Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna; special concern) and Leonard’s Skipper (Hesperia leonardus; special concern). Rapid, efficient, and accurate assessment of pollinator communities is a conservation imperative to inform adaptive management strategies and stanch the loss of this critical component of biodiversity. For this task, traditional pollinator survey methods will be compared to eDNA metabarcoding of flowers to assess effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding for surveying for at-risk pollinator species and identifying plant-pollinator interactions. Initial focus will be on two pollinator species that are petitioned for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act, the Frosted Elfin and the Regal Fritillary. Traditional surveys will be conducted for both species at Fort McCoy, WI. Survey plots will be determined in collaboration with CERL and Fort McCoy personnel and based on presence of host plants, previous survey efforts, and access. Plot size will vary based on abundance and distribution of host plants. Within plots, surveys will be conducted both via random walk, focusing on presence of host plants, and via fixed 110 x 10 m transects. Surveys will be conducted throughout the active flight period (approximately April–June) with each plot and transect surveyed at least three times. Each transect walkthrough will occur at a steady pace, start/stop times recorded, and host plant and pollinator species observations tallied. Weather conditions and other environmental data at each patch will be measured and documented prior to counts. Counts will only be conducted if weather is within the range of optimal conditions as specified by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2019). If no (or few) butterflies are detected during walkthrough, eggs, larvae, and evidence of larval activity on host plants (e.g., feeding damage) will be documented. To assess effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding for assessing pollinators, target flowers will be randomly chosen within survey areas (above). Target flowers will be identified to species, collected, and preserved in ATL buffer. Trace pollinator eDNA left on the flowers will be extracted using a modified Qiagen DNeasy protocol. Extracted eDNA from flowers will then be subjected to metabarcoding. Once PCR and library preparation have been completed, samples will be submitted to the UIUC Keck Core Sequencing Facility for sequencing on Illumina Platforms. Illumina data will be converted from raw sequences to taxonomic assignments using a custom pipeline for reproducible analysis of metabarcoding data: metaBEAT v0.97.78. Using these data, species will be catalogued via conventional observations as well as eDNA metabarcoding. Task 4: Genomic analyses for at-risk bats (Myotis spp.). Several species of bat across the US have experienced drastic declines since 2006, primarily as a result of disease (white-nose syndrome, WNS), with some species reduced by over of 90% of their pre-WNS numbers. Where populations persist, survivors may provide clues to disease resistance, with recent research finding genetic differences between bats killed by white-nose-syndrome and those that survived (Gignoux-Wolfsohn et al. 2021). At-risk bats (Myotis sp.) will be sampled at Camp Grayling, MI, and tissue samples collected via wing biopsy punch for genomic analysis. Data for at-risk bats are particularly lacking for the northern Midwest region. These data will help fill that gap and enable comparison to studies from other regions for range-wide assessment. Work accomplished under this task will include sample collection, laboratory analyses, and summarization. Data will be used to populate reports to military installations regarding the statuses of at-risk species on their properties.

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which can be caused in freshwater by various cyanobacteria, represent a significant and costly threat to our Nation’s economy and natural resources. HABs impact waterways, infrastructure, operations, and associated resources across the Nation. Innovative, cost-effective, and scalable technologies for early detection, prevention, and management of HABs are needed. This announcement focuses on the field validation of innovative HAB prevention and management technologies, or combinations of technologies, that have been proven at lab or pilot scales. It is essential that these technologies are cost-effective and efficient in varied freshwater system types (e.g. lotic, lentic) and varied climatic ecoregions across our Nation. Proposals that focus extensively on water quality, including impacts to drinking water, are not needed at this time. Proposals that use Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) as a monitoring or surveying method will not be considered. Projects should match one of the following objectives: (1) The project’s potential to significantly reduce the frequency and effects of HABs associated with water resources development projects. (2) The project’s utilization of new, innovative methods or tools, or technology being developed under the Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom Research and Development Initiative. (3) The degree to which the project leverages existing Federal and State data and ongoing programs and activities of Federal and State agencies. (4) Preference will be given to projects that address a HAB issue associated with a water resources development project in one of the six focus areas identified in eligibility requirements provided below. Offerors and pre-proposals must meet eligibility and other requirements as follows: A field validation project may be implemented anywhere in the nation to address a HAB associated with a water resources development project. Preference will be given to projects located in the six focus areas: the Great Lakes, tidal and inland waters of New Jersey, coastal and tidal waters of Louisiana, waterways of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California, Allegheny Reservoir Watershed in New York, and Lake Okeechobee, Florida. The proposed project must be for the purpose of determining the causes of, and/or applying technologies to effectively detect, prevent, manage, or eliminate, HAB associated with a water resources development project. The project must include the gathering and evaluation of technology cost and performance data that will guide technology use and support technology transfer. The proposed project should provide data that could be applied at multiple water resources development projects or federally constructed reservoirs in the Upper Missouri River Basin or the North Platte River Basin and could be expanded at a larger scale than the proposed demonstration. The applicants may propose to use technology developed by the Corps under Section 1109 of WRDA 2018 (i.e., the Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom Research and Development Initiative) or viable technology with legal authority and ability to be permitted and applied under appropriate federal laws.

The project will involve the following objectives in effort gather needed information to better understand flowering rush invasion in a leading-edge population. This information is needed to prevent and remediate flowering rush infestations in Lake Umatilla and Lake Celilo, and to contribute to the growing body of knowledge for flowering rush treatment and prevention available to land and water managers: 1. Assist John Day and The Dalles Ranger staff in conducting comprehensive aquatic invasive species surveys, focusing on flowering rush, throughout Lake Umatilla and Lake Celilo. All locations that favor potential establishment (slow-moving, shallow water) will be documented, even if flowering rush is not currently present. Site conditions (native plant community, disturbance regimes, abiotic conditions, etc) will be described in detail to provide a baseline assessment should the area become colonized in the future. This will help to better understand establishment methods and dynamics.2. Treat flowering rush infestations where feasible based on water depth – this may include careful hand pulling in shallow water/on shorelines or covering small infestations/single plants with weighted weed mats specifically designed for flowering rush. Continued research on effective manual treatment strategies is needed; for example, plant phenological stage and treatment timing may influence treatment efficacy. Other treatment methods may be proposed by the awarded partner and investigated for efficacy.3. Provide treatment recommendations and control strategies for other aquatic invasive plants identified during the surveys. Currently, the focus is on flowering rush, but other aquatic plants may also be targeted for control. Other invasive aquatic plants in the region include Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) among others. Abundance of these other invasive species is not well understood near Corps-managed recreation areas in Lake Umatilla and Lake Celilo. This information, and proposed control strategies, would allow for greater preparedness in reducing nonnative species populations in the region.4. Document all existing infestation locations, potential future locations based on flow rate and model, and treatment methodologies employed through a final report and provide this to John Day/The Dalles Ranger staff and partners in the Flowering Rush Working Group.

Background: Aquatic nuisance species, including harmful algae, impact US waterways (including those maintained by USACE), infrastructure, and associated resources across the Nation; it’s estimated that Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) cause an estimated $1B per year in lost tourism revenue alone. In response, innovative, cost-effective, and scalable technologies for early detection, prevention, and management of aquatic nuisance species are required. HABs are increasing in frequency and duration, resulting in environmental, socio-economic, and human/wildlife health concerns. Prevention and management of HABs within the Ohio River is of interest, as is research that produces knowledge and scalable HAB prevention and management tools applicable to lentic and lotic systems across the Nation. Research to address the need to improve capabilities and technologies to anticipate and rapidly respond to/mitigate HAB events is needed. Scalable physical, chemical, and/or biological HAB technologies to manage HABs are particularly needed. This project will establish an interdisciplinary collaboration between USACE and a Southern Appalachian Mountains or a North Atlantic Coast CESU network member. This collaboration will leverage resources to identify research opportunities and pursue actions necessary for accelerating the delivery of scalable HAB management technologies. This collaboration will seek to build upon and expand (but in no way duplicate) current HAB research efforts ongoing in the Ohio River and North Atlantic regions, thus leading to expanded technology transfer opportunities. Special topics of interest for this funding opportunity announcement are described as part of the “brief description of anticipated work” section below. Investigators should have demonstrated experience pertaining to HABs and aquatic nuisance species control techniques. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: Required Work Objectives: This CESU project is intended to develop and demonstrate scalable solutions that will minimize the frequency and effects of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) to our Nation’s waterways. Special topics of interest for proposals include but are not limited to: (1) scalable technologies to manage, control, and/or mitigate HABs in lentic OR lotic freshwater systems; and (2) approaches for identification of priority areas for proactive HAB management within large‑scale lotic systems (e.g., cyanobacteria “seed beds” or HAB onset “hot spots” in mainstem, tributaries or backwaters) and effective treatments for identified priority areas. This CESU project will develop and demonstrate a process or technology for the reduction of HAB events and their effects through 1) decreased HAB size, duration and frequency, 2) decreased HAB biomass and toxicity, or 3) reduced HAB biomass and toxins during or after an event, through physical, chemical, AND/OR biological processes. Successful proposals will provide compelling information illustrating that the proposed technology would be feasible for deployment to manage HABs that occur at large scales within freshwater systems. Successful proposals will also (a) clearly identify question(s) the proposed project will seek to answer (i.e., project technical objectives); (b) clearly describe the tasks and data required to answer those question(s) (i.e., data quality objectives); c) specifically address the scalable potential of the management measures or technology being proposed; and (d) describe envisioned project deliverables by task and by year. Proposals that demonstrate intent to maximize use of existing federal and state HAB programs, activities, and data are encouraged. Successful proposals will identify quantitative and qualitative success criteria for each project task and objective; identification of go/no-go decision points at the end of each year is also encouraged.