OpportunityTitle: Assessing the Vulnerability of Sensitive Karst Habitats Containing RTE Species in Chesapeake &amp; Ohio Canal National Historical Park
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: This is a &quot;Notice of Intent&quot; of a single source task agreement award to West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV under the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).  The Geology Program of the Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University has well-known, respected, and experienced hydro- and geomorphologists, scientists knowledgeable about the scientific methods of identifying and assessing karst and groundwater resource conditions.  This cooperative effort, including Maryland Natural Heritage taxonomic experts, will allow the Cooperators to continue to build upon and expand on their scholarly work and allow them to develop new integrated science-based approaches for assessing and predicting natural resource conditions through this project.  We searched and could not find scientists within the Chesapeake Watershed CESU with needed expertise.  The Cooperator has worked cooperatively on two previous projects with the park and other NCR parks.  Cooperator scientists have a demonstrated track record for completion of projects on time and on budget with excellent quality.  Their prior program experience and research expertise make the proposed Cooperator uniquely qualified to carry out the terms of this Agreement in a cost-effective manner.
Description: The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (CHOH) is the most important tract of land for the preservation of rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) subterranean macroinvertebrates in Maryland. More than 10 RTE groundwater species have been identified in sensitive karst areas in CHOH. In a landscape undergoing rapid conversion from rural agriculture to exurban and suburban residential development, the narrow shape of CHOH contributes to its potential vulnerability to groundwater pollution. We will prioritize CHOH karst-RTE sites based on risk level and magnitude of impacts using an integrated scientific team and obtain detailed information for high-risk sites to enable protection. We will define the recharge areas with greater certainty using microbial tracking and dye tracing to map contributing recharge areas and identify management implications and strategies for CHOH managers. This project will be funded over two years.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Help Desk
GrantorContactText: Tonya Bradley &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 402-661-1656