OpportunityTitle: BLM-Arizona - The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU):  Aravaipa Creek Native Fish Monitoring SFO
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION  1. Eligible Applicants  The following types of entities are eligible to apply for award under this announcement.  Failure to meet eligibility requirements will result in precluding the BLM from making an award.  Eligible applicant types are:   Unrestricted, anyone may apply  2. Cost Sharing or Matching   This program has no cost sharing or matching requirements.   3. Other Eligibility Restrictions  This financial assistance opportunity is also open to all partners under any Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program.  CESUs are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education.  If a cooperative agreement is awarded to a CESU partner under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement, indirect costs are limited to a rate of no more than 17.5% of the indirect cost base recognized in the partner&apos;s Federal Agency-approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).
Description: Description of Program and/or Project a. Background: The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network is a national consortium of federal agencies, academic institutions, tribal, state, and local governments, nongovernmental conservation organizations (300 partners). The Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) is a cooperative network, transcending political and institutional boundaries, which creates innovative opportunities for research, education, and technical assistance in support of the management and stewardship by partner agencies of the Desert Southwest&#226;&#191;&#191;s natural, cultural, and social resources. The CESU has a unique collaborative relationship with research scientists, end users of research products, the public, and educators who are trained to bridge the gap between researchers, science users, and educators. The Aravaipa Creek native fish monitoring is a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit project. This project is an extension of monitoring activities initiated in 1963 by Dr. W.L. Minckley, Arizona State University. The long-term monitoring data set is the longest such effort for native fish in Arizona. This effort is being continued by BLM, the University of Arizona, and The Nature Conservancy. Monitoring shows that the native fish community continues to be robust despite substantial changes in human uses. It also shows a gradual and increasing invasion and spread by nonnative fishes, indicating instability that may result in long-term negative change. The primary objectives of the monitoring is to determine distribution and relative abundance of both native and nonnative fish species. Information collected from the bi-annual fish monitoring is shared among all partners and interested public and is used by state, federal, and private agencies to manage, conserve, and protect the fish species and their habitats for present and future generations to experience and enjoy. The recipient of this financial agreement, will: 1) continue bi-annual fish monitoring using protocols consistent with, and supplemental to, those for the 40-year existing data set; 2) evaluate the need of increasing the intensity of monitoring, including increased sampling events consistent with the 40-year data set, as well as short-term efforts using alternative methodologies to answer other questions; 3) provide for improved long-term storage and retrieval of all Aravaipa Creek fish sampling data with periodic summary reports; 4) coordinate approximately 20-student volunteers bi-annually for spring and fish monitoring; and 5) utilize fishery data in context of other research to inform management decisions. This project will support cooperative efforts to conserve and protect the native fishery and aquatic and riparian habitats within Aravaipa Creek. b. Objectives: 1. Determine distribution, relative abundance, and long-term trends in in fish species abundance and community composition of both native and nonnative fish species. 2. Identify, through monitoring, sources, invasions, and establishment of nonnative fishes within the Aravaipa Creek watershed.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: ebell@blm.gov
GrantorContactText: Grants Management Officer Eddie W Bell Jr (602) 417-9268&lt;br/&gt;ebell@blm.gov&lt;br/&gt;
CloseDateExplanation: See announcement cover sheet for the deadline (30 July 2016 @ 17:00) for submission of applications.  Applications must be received by the BLM prior to the posted deadline.