Funding Wizard

A. Short Description of Funding Opportunity This research project focuses on quantifying changes in wetland biogeochemical cycles in areas enhanced using dredged materials or other sources of sediment that contain a larger fraction of mineral contents than most coastal wetland soils. The project will focus on systems within the southeast United States and the Gulf Coast (e.g., FL, AL), but may also include sample collections in the mid-Atlantic region. Specialized approaches will be required to collect and analyze soil biogeochemical parameters within coastal wetlands to accomplish the project objectives. B. Background Wetlands provide a number of ecological functions that benefit society, including the reduction of storm surges and increased flood risk reduction for adjacent communities. Recent interest has focused on the need to enhance wetland biogeochemical cycling following wetland restoration project implementation, resulting in the evolution and expansion of the use of Engineering With Nature and Natural and Nature-Based Features techniques in a restoration context. In particular, the application of thin layer placement of dredged sediments into wetlands to increase elevations and enhance ecosystem functions is of increasing interest. Importantly, wetland biogeochemical cycles can undergo a number of biotic and abiotic transformations that have implications for decomposition rates, nutrient turnover, and fate of organic materials in the wetland soil system. Few studies have investigated short to mid-term (~10 year) changes in biogeochemical cycles following restoration, especially with regards to emerging approaches such as thin layer placement. The paucity of studies represents a knowledge gap that must be addressed to improve the management of wetlands within a climate change resiliency and sustainability context. Additionally, improved information is required to guide the design and implementation of wetland restoration projects to maximize ecosystem functions across a variety of wetland types (i.e., floodplains, marshes, mangroves). C. Program Description/Objective The purpose of the work is to 1) document changes in restored wetland biogeochemical cycles following thin layer applications, 2) compare and contrast these cycles between restored and unrestored (i.e., reference) ecosystems, and 3) use study results to inform future project design and implementation to maximize biogeochemical cycling benefits (i.e., carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, water quality improvement). Objectives: The objectives of the project for the initial year are as follows: 1. Develop technical team and identify study sites. 2. Develop a sample design to sample previously restored wetlands that received thin layer placement treatments. 3. For each study site, collect and analyze samples from paired natural and restored locations (minimum triplicate samples). 4. Generate peer-reviewed journal article with ERDC researchers to describe mid-range project outcomes and inform future design criteria. 5. Develop and present public seminars based on study findings. The objectives for Optional Year 1 and 2 are as follows: 1. Refine the established methodology to increase operational efficiencies. 2. Expand the study to other regions or apply the approach to previously unresearched ecosystems including mangroves, which have not previously received thin layer placement treatments. 3. Generate a peer-reviewed journal articles or public reports in conjunction with ERDC researchers integrating all study conclusions. 4. Develop and present public seminars based on study findings. Successful applicants should have expert knowledge of: 1) biogeochemical cycling dynamics within wetland systems; 2) field data collection capabilities; 3) capacity to perform a number of standard and novel soil physicochemical and microbially mediated analytical procedures linked with ecosystem functions; and 4) experience developing novel approaches to wetland soil characterization, especially with regards to wetland soil biogeochemistry, nutrient cycling, and carbon quality. Areas of expertise that may be required in combination to perform this study include: 1) Capacity to collect and process soil cores within a variety of coastal setting including both organic and mineral dominated substrates. 2) Advanced laboratory capabilities to measure soil biological, chemical, and physical parameters related to ecosystem functions. 3) Experience working with soils and sediments in a wide array of natural and constructed/restored wetland settings. 4) Experience working with thin layer sediment restoration projects in the past.

ERDC seeks applications for: Sampling phosphorous efflux from Lake Huron to learn how concentrations change in the downstream direction and ultimately impact Lake Erie Recent analyses (Burniston et al. 2018, Scavia in review, Scavia et al. 2019, 2020, 2022) have shown that the phosphorus (P) load from Lake Huron to the St. Clair River has been underestimated by at least a factor of three. Earlier underestimates were based on assuming the load is determined by offshore concentrations, dismissing river measurements because they were presumed to be biased by sediment-bound P that is not available to algae (IJC 1977). However, Scavia et al. (2020) showed that P to be biologically available. The newer load estimates are based on relatively frequent direct measurements in Canadian waters (e.g., Burniston et al. 2018) and estimates based on daily turbidity measurements in US and Canadian waters, and turbidity-P regressions (Scavia et al. 2022). Scavia et al. (2019, 2020) suggested the higher loads are driven by episodic fluxes of wind-driven resuspended sediment from Lake Huron’s nearshore. Burniston et al. (2018) also reported that P concentrations at the bottom of the river near Port Lambton were substantially higher that those measured at the top near Point Edward. Based on Port Huron/ Point Edward and Port Lambton/Algonac average loads, Scavia et al. (2019, 2020, 2022) suggest these higher loads at the bottom could reflect the episodic events that were missed in samples at the top of the river were mixed during transport and captured at the bottom (Figure 1). Additional sampling targeting more resuspension events are needed to confirm this. Initial efforts also revealed that loads calculated with P concentrations at Port Lambton were higher than those based on concentrations measured across the river at Algonac (Figure 2) even though they are roughly 0.5 km across the river from each other. An important difference between sampling at Algonac and Port Lambton is sampling depth. Algonac samples are taken from 0.5 – 1.0 m below the surface (J. Varricchione, Michigan EGLE, personal communication), whereas Port Lambton samples are from roughly 1 m off the bottom (Burniston et al. 2018). It is possible that the Port Lambton samples encounter resuspended river sediment or bed load. Dissolved substances (e.g., Chloride) move conservatively from Point Edward to Port Lambton, but the fraction of P in particulate form does not (Figure 3). The particulate fraction is much higher at Port Lambton. These differences are also reflected in suspended solids and organic carbon. Additional sampling is required to confirm this. Program Description/Objective: The US Army Corps of Engineers will collect whole water samples from the St. Clair River and deliver them to a laboratory for nutrient analysis. The sampling plan will be designed with the grant recipient and laboratory. The results of the lab work will be delivered to grant recipient, spatial analyses will be performed to understand the fate and transport of phosphorous. Relationships will be established between samples and an existing sensor network maintained by the federal governments of the United States and Canada. These analyses will be fit into a larger body of nutrient work for the St. Clair-Detroit River system including: (Burniston, et. Al., 2009), (Burniston, et. Al., 2018), (Scavia, et. Al., 2014), (Scavia, et. Al., 2019), (Scavia, et. Al., 2022), (Scavia, 2023), (Totten and Duris, 2019).

The construction of dams interrupts the continuity of sediment transportation through river basins, resulting in problems such as, decreased reservoir storage, flood risk management, and navigation capacity. As of 2012, loss of water storage capacity from sedimentation in 20 large federal reservoirs in Kansas ranged from 2% to 43% (see Juracek 2015; The Aging of America's Reservoirs: In-Reservoir and Downstream Physical Changes and Habitat Implications). Downstream habitat changes also result from sediment deprivation (e.g., channel incision, changes in bedform, loss of lateral connectivity, unnaturally clear water). Sediment management actions at aging reservoirs (e.g., hydro injection dredging, flushing, hydrosuction) may drive ecological effects in downstream river systems (e.g., changes in biodiversity, water quality, habitat quality) that are not well-known. Research is needed to understand and document the potential effects of releasing sediment from reservoirs to downstream ecosystems. The USACE Kansas City District (NWK) is conducting a Water Injection Dredging (WID) pilot project at Tuttle Creek Lake, Kansas that will potentially begin as soon as Summer 2023.This will be the first time Water Injection Dredging has been conducted in a reservoir anywhere in the world. Water Injection Dredging uses water jets designed to disaggregate, hydraulically lift, and entrain bed material into a density current. Factors such as, settling velocity, bed slope, bed roughness, relative densities of sediment and water column, and total jet water discharge influence the distance over which a density current will be transported. Ideally, sediment is transported in the density currents to reservoir outlets and sediment is passed to downstream the ecosystem in order to restore reservoir pool capacities. The main objective of the WID pilot project is to test, collect, analyze and document data related to the WID technology. Environmental data will be collected inside the reservoir and downstream to evaluate the potential effects of moving the sediment inside the reservoir and changing the sediment regime downstream of the reservoir. The data collected will help future feasibility studies at Tuttle Creek Lake, and will also be used to validate empirical or numerical models and other tools that could be used to assess WID at other lakes. This Funding Opportunity Announcement seeks researchers with the expertise needed to assess potential ecological benefits or impacts of releasing sediment downstream of Tuttle Creek Lake. Applicants should have knowledge in monitoring and analysis of data in freshwater ecology, aquatic biology, water quality, behavioral ecology or other related fields. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: There is a growing need for information, experimental designs, and tools to assess the ecological impacts or benefits of sediment management actions. The Tuttle Creek Lake WID pilot project provides an opportunity to study and document the potential effects of releasing sediment as a management action in restoring aging reservoir multi-purpose capacity. The successful applicant would be collaborating with USACE-ERDC researchers to meet the following objectives:1. Develop an appropriate monitoring protocol and experimental design to study aquatic organism communities and environmental parameters affected by sediment releases2. Monitor the river basins affected by the releases (e.g., Big Blue River and Kansas River) before, during, and after WID operational releases3. Evaluate data through statistical analyses and modeling approaches4. Document and share findings through peer-reviewed publications and presentations

Background: Non-physical barriers are being developed for stopping the spread of invasive species in waterways around the country. These barriers rely on a behavioral response. Acoustics and electricity are increasing in use at a variety of locations. All the locations are aquatic and often located near infrastructure such as locks and dams. One of the primary tools at these sites is OpenFOAM, the open source multi-physics solver. Practitioners use this code to compute free surface hydraulics and infer biological response. However, the ability to model acoustic fields or electric fields is lacking. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: This project will involve close collaboration with the successful offeror and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). This project will involve adding the ability to model acoustic fields and potentially electric fields within the OpenFOAM framework while still computing hydraulic variables. The resulting data set will include the flow field, sound field, and electrical field as appropriate. A field site with supporting geometry and sound data will be provided by the USACE. The successful offeror will also be responsible for processing acoustic data as appropriate.

Background:Aquatic herbicides are a critical component for invasive plant management in public waters of the United States. However, environmentally compatible use of these products can require rapid residue analysis of herbicides registered for aquatic sites, both within and outside of treatment areas. Recently, there has been increased interest in establishing residue data profiles for all of the USEPA registered aquatic herbicides in order to address questions related to herbicide effectiveness, persistence and degradation in the aquatic environment, and impacts on non-target organisms. Consequently, water resource managers, scientists, and the regulatory community would greatly benefit from a cost-effective, third-party laboratory partner that could provide accurate, rapid, and cost-effective assessment of herbicide residues in water, and how that information is linked to herbicide use patterns. This analytical capability would enhance decisions for using aquatic herbicides, based on sound science, and provide timely information on potential interactions of aquatic pesticide residues with agricultural and drinking water intakes as related to human health issues. In addition to operational field programs, this service will be invaluable to research projects that need rapid turnaround of herbicide residues to support results of experiments refining application rates to improve species-selective control of invasive plants. Moreover, these data will provide a more complete understanding of site-specific fate and dissipation processes following applications and documenting realistic impacts on target and non-target organisms in and near treatment areas. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: The following objective summarizes the work for a maximum of two unique, stand-alone projects. Over the life of the cooperative agreement (5 years), it is anticipated that 2 projects would be completed. Objective 1: Develop analytical protocols. Investigator will collaborate with ERDC researchers to develop sampling, preservation, and analytical protocols for multiple projects to determine aqueous herbicide residues. This will include analytical protocols for registered aquatic herbicides including but not limited to: 2,4-D, bispyribac, carfentrazone, copper, diquat, endothall, florpyrauxifen-benzyl, flumioxazin, fluridone, glyphosate, imazamox, imazapyr, penoxsulam, topramezone, and triclopyr. Access to laboratory equipment such as liquid and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-UV detection, immunoassays, and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography is required. All analytical protocols must comply with accepted US standards as required by the USEPA Offices of Pesticides and Water.Objective 2: Sample processing, data analysis, and technical transfer. Water, sediment, or plant tissue samples will be collected by ERDC researchers, preserved, and transferred to the investigator for preparation, extraction, and quantification. Data provided by investigator(s) will be incorporated into ERDC reports and peer reviewed scientific literature to provide guidance on herbicide deposition and dissipation in the aquatic environmental. All data shall be incorporated in a report using peer-review publication format. Status and draft reports shall be submitted for ERDC review on a quarterly basis. Electronic raw data files for each project will be stored at the analytical laboratory facility while ensuring integrity of the files, with copies of each data file being provided to the ERDC on a regular basis. These data cannot be shared with outside parties unless agreed upon by the ERDC.

Background: Levees are an integral part of the U.S. infrastructure system that prevent flooding of numerous communities, industries, and ecosystems throughout the U.S. Currently, there are over 24,000 miles of levees recorded in the National Levee Database with significantly more levees left to inventory. Unfortunately, engineering records and instrumentation data for these levee systems is usually quite limited. As a result, inspections and assessments of levees form the primary basis for conducting risk assessments of these structures. Levee inspections include tasks aimed at identifying potential failure modes. Erosion and overtopping are critical failure modes for levees. Slope stability is rarely a driving failure mode. Erosion is not necessarily observable in the absence of a flooding event, during which the presence of water obscures the observability of failure indicators, complicating levee inspection processes. In addition to identifying defects and failures, inspection of levees and structures serve to create necessary information for condition and risk assessments of levee systems. The types and densities of vegetation, location of discontinuities, damage, and geometry are useful for the assessments and must be gathered via inspection, which requires significant cost and time. Inspection of culverts and other structures along levees, locations of potential critical failure modes, are more able to identify indicators of developing failure modes but are equally time consuming and costly. It is also not always known where culverts are inside of levee systems, which can be a major issue as concentrated leak erosion typically occurs along these soil-structure interfaces. Culverts from 3” to 6’ diameter are frequently inspected using robotic instruments with cameras. The videos from these culvert inspections are reviewed by human visual inspection at great time and cost. Methods are needed to gather information for assessments of levees, structures, and culverts, as well as methods to identify indicators of future failures which are rapid and affordable. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: The purpose of this research is to implement technologies for automating inspection methods for levees and flood control structures using robotic platforms and artificial intelligence techniques to increase accuracy, reduce time and cost, and to increase safety of performing necessary data gathering and interpretation activities. To fulfill the purpose of this research, two lines of effort will be conducted in the first year: rapid culvert inspection and rapid risk assessment data gathering for levees. Other applications will be considered for follow-on years if funding becomes available. Products to be delivered include all data sets used for the research and a final report in electronic format. All algorithms developed must be done so as to run on USACE computational resources for government personnel access and all inspection hardware and software platforms must conform to all USACE and Army cybersecurity guidelines, especially any unmanned aerial vehicles, if used. Demonstrations will be performed using data provided by the government or gathered at sites determined and coordinated by the government.

Background: There are approximately 740 dams and over 1,600 levees across the United States that protect neighborhoods, businesses and public places during heavy rain events that cause extreme flooding. A large portion of these structures are in seismically active regions. Additionally, the average age of these structures is 60 years which is rapidly approaching their effective design life. As these structures are assessed within the risk framework adopted by USACE, failure modes associated with seismic activity often result in conflicting results for certain foundation and embankment soil types. Therefore, there is a need to perform research to clear these discrepancies to ensure the economic and life safety benefits provided by these structures is measured accurately. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: This agreement represents an opportunity for research into the current state of practice and research needs of earthquake engineering. To accomplish this, the following is anticipated:1. Current state of practice: Conduct research into the current methods of design and analysis. The current standards and methods of assessing risk for risk driving failure modes will be included.2. Workshop: Invite seismic experts from government researchers and academia to participate in a workshop. Potential areas of research may be field investigation (geotechnical and geophysical), laboratory testing, analytical and numerical modeling methods, machine learning techniques for data analyses.3. Documentation: Document findings in a peer-reviewed technical report which will be publicly available.

Background: Questions remain whether the operation of navigational lock chambers along the Alabama River helps large riverine fishes move upstream of dams and allow for their natural and historic long-distance migrations, most often for spawning. Species such as sturgeons (including the endangered Alabama sturgeon), paddlefish, and striped bass, as well as lesser known, nongame species like the southeastern blue sucker, smallmouth buffalo, and highfin carpsucker have historically migrated along Alabama's rivers. Fisheries researchers tagged fish and installed an array of 19 receivers that spanned the distance from the Mobile Delta to the Cahaba River (including inside the lock chambers at Claiborne and Millers Ferry); these receivers automatically detect the signal of tagged fish that pass by them, allowing the researchers to follow fish movements. During preliminary research, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted daily special non-navigational lockages to allow fish the chance to move past the lock structures. This provided a large number of additional opportunities for fish to move into and through the lock chambers beyond the regular navigational operations of the locks. Preliminary research demonstrated that fish can and do enter lock chambers during these specialized lock operations, just as they can during regular navigational lockages. However, if lock operations are halted or reduced, then these opportunities for fishes to move upstream past the dams on their historic spawning migrations are eliminated, leading to a greatly reduced chance of fish moving upstream to spawn and eventual decline or elimination of the species. New infrastructure is under consideration; however, questions about what type of infrastructure (bypass channel, fishway, fish lift for example) remain. It is unknown how infrastructure affect fish population impacts, passage further upstream, as well as impact on overall ecosystem health. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: Historically, fish made long distance migrations within the Alabama River. Current fish migrations are largely eliminated by dams, but there is potential, with proper mitigation, to reestablish migration and enhance ecological and economic benefits of the river. The goal of the project is to evaluate the fish movement at two locations in the Alabama River each with a different focus: Claiborne Lock and Dam and Montgomery Lock and Dam, each are USACE structure on the Alabama River. At Claiborne Lock and Dam, information is needed on the ability of each approach to improve fish passage and what the follow-on population impacts might be. In addition, a wide range of potential species migrate in the Alabama River, and although ERDC has currently has 2D movement data for three species, movement data on additional species is required. These data should include new species across a range of possible sizes as field collection allows. Companion laboratory and numerical studies are envisioned to support field data collection. At Montgomery Lock and Dam, no high resolution movement data for any species exist. In addition, Montgomery Lock and Dam also has an operating hydropower facility, which possibly complicates fish movement and makes designing fish mitigation more difficult. New movement data, taking into account hydropower operations, is needed for all species including those already measured at Claiborne Lock and Dam. Companion laboratory and numerical studies are needed for Montgomery Lock and Dam. Partnerships with other universities working on locations in the Southeast and Mississippi River watershed with similar issues of locks and dams and fish migration are encouraged.

Brief Description of Anticipated Work: Our objectives are to monitor and document the status of these reefs. For the oyster component, a physical assessment of the reefs is desired. Assessing the reefs for oyster and other attached fauna for density and biomass (dry weight) and for oysters, size-frequency distribution. Approximately 50 samples will be needed to minimize the SE (standard error of the mean) and ensure survey accuracy. An assessment of fish use of the reefs is also desired. For this component, a variety of methods could be used. Control sites for this work will also be necessary in order to determine what differences in fish species distribution and abundance, if any, exists between the fish/oyster reef sites and surrounding open sandy bottom areas. There are two sites that will need to be monitored. The first site is 8-acres mostly in the low intertidal and shallow water zone. It consists of several thousand reef balls weighing approximately 50 lbs. Each. The second site which is currently under construction is proposed to consist of crushed concrete or granite riprap with an oyster shell veneer. This subtidal, high-relief reef is approximately 18” off the surrounding bottom. The second site will cover anywhere from 23-30 acres post-construction and is approximately -6 ft MLW.

Background: An evaluation of avoided losses attributed to natural features in both “indirect” and “direct” impact scenarios combined with a systematic approach to relating the avoidance of loss to Natural and Nature Based Features (NNBF) would help in broadening NNBF usage. Results would also inform future policy and actions related to marginalized communities living within high risk coastal regions. Hurricanes Katrina (2005), Hurricane Harvey (2016), and extreme flooding in Louisiana (2016) have revealed disparities in how communities recover from extreme events. With such studies and information, issues of equity, vulnerability, and resilience could be woven into the strategy for how the project is planned. For example, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season produced a record 30 named storms, and the 2021 season produced 21 named storms. In addition to record storm seasons, sea level rise continues to threaten coastlines, and intensifying rainstorms amplify individual and compound flood events. Thus, the importance of understanding how natural features and NNBFs perform under hurricane and other extreme wind or rainstorm conditions as well as other natural disasters is critical. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: This work represents an opportunity to develop case studies highlighting the performance/impact to natural features or natural and nature-based features (NNBF) during recent natural disaster events such as hurricanes, and flooding. Many university researchers have gathered recent pre/post storm data using various metrics. While there are often mechanisms to collect data, opportunities to perform thorough analyses and develop case studies are not always feasible. This requirement is to develop a subset of sampling events into a case study that describes the coastal protection gained from a natural or nature-based feature in collaboration with USACE. This is an opportunity to identify and use existing data from past storm seasons to develop case studies demonstrating the performance of natural features. Ultimately, case study results would also be used to relate natural performance to anticipated performance of NNBF features. Case studies could be focused on natural features such as dunes, marshes, reefs, etc. or NNBFs. Previously collected data used to develop case studies might include (but is not limited to) a combination of wave attenuation and water movement data, sediment transport data, elevation data, and vegetation or other ecological data. The findings of this cooperative agreement will be made publically available through the release of public reports or peer-reviewed journal articles as well as a public seminar describing results. The Government will be involved with the research by providing technical guidance on the research, assisting with the experimental design, and collaborating on the journal articles. The Government is not expecting the periods of performances to overlap. Identified project tasks are: 1. Describe previously collected data and justification for how it can be used as a case study for monitoring natural or NNBF features pre/post natural disaster.2. Work collaboratively with ERDC to analyze data and develop case study/ 3. Work collaboratively with ERDC publish case study via ERDC or peer reviewed publications. Requirements: Vendor must be a non-federal partner of one of the following CESU networks: North Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Watershed, Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast, South Florida-Caribbean, and Gulf Coast. Vendor must be willing to accept the currently approved indirect cost rate of 17.5%. Successful applicants should have expert knowledge of 1) NNBF and Natural features, 2) available pre and post natural disaster (e.g., hurricane, flood event, etc.) monitoring data in hand associated with a natural feature or NNBF, and 3) knowledge of planned statistical approaches for analysis of those datasets. Areas of expertise required to perform this study include:1) Knowledge and experience monitoring extreme events. 2) Statistical analysis. Applicants will be required to submit quarterly status reports and a final report within 4 months of completion of the study. ERDC and the candidates will develop a draft of the journal article or articles for internal peer review during cooperative agreement’s period of performance.