Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G26AS00159

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Funding Opportunity Number G26AS00159?

G26AS00159 is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program, specifically the Californian CESU.

Which USGS units are leading and supporting this project?

The project is led by the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center in collaboration with the USGS Grand Canyon Science Center and the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.

What is the main purpose of this cooperative agreement?

The purpose is to obtain technical assistance from an eligible CESU partner to strengthen and expand invasive mussel risk modeling so that state and federal managers can make more targeted and cost-effective prevention and response decisions.

Which invasive mussels are the focus of the work?

The work focuses on quagga mussels and zebra mussels (in the Washington State risk assessment model) and golden mussels (through a standardized risk assessment for California).

What are the two main technical goals described in the opportunity?

The two main technical goals are: (1) integrate a new road network model into an existing Washington State quagga and zebra mussel risk assessment model, and (2) expand the modeling approach to create a standardized golden mussel risk assessment for California.

Why is a road network model being added to the Washington State risk assessment?

The road network component is intended to better represent human-mediated pathways of spread, especially movement associated with trailered watercraft traveling between lakes and rivers.

What does "standardized risk assessment" mean in the context of the California golden mussel work?

It means adapting the framework so agencies in different places can compare risk outputs consistently, rather than relying on one-off methods that are difficult to reconcile across jurisdictions.

Is the project only about mapping where risk is high?

No. The description implies an optimization-style decision support framework that goes beyond mapping risk by helping identify ideal locations for mitigation interventions.

What types of mitigation interventions are specifically mentioned?

Two examples are named explicitly: watercraft inspection and decontamination (WID) stations, and public outreach placements such as "clean-drain-dry" information campaigns.

What is the intended operational value of the decision support framework?

It is intended to help managers decide where limited prevention funding and staff time will have the greatest impact in slowing or preventing invasive mussel spread, rather than only describing risk in a general way.

Is this work starting from scratch?

No. USGS references a multi-year collaborative effort that produced standardized risk assessment models in the Missouri and Columbia River basins (cited as Raymond et al. 2024 and 2026). The new work is meant to leverage that foundation.

How will prior basin-scale models be used in this project?

The solicitation indicates that methods, data structures, and assumptions from the Missouri and Columbia River basin models will inform the Washington and California expansions.

What role will USGS play during the project?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, substantial federal involvement is expected. USGS staff are described as providing model development guidance, helping identify and assemble needed datasets, and facilitating working relationships with state and federal resource management partners in Washington and California.

Who are the intended users of the project outputs?

The intended users are state and federal resource managers, particularly those responsible for prevention and response decisions related to invasive mussels in Washington and California.

How is the project described as being connected to management needs?

The work is framed as responsive to a "call to action" from state and federal managers, suggesting the outputs are expected to align with real management questions and implemented needs.

How does this opportunity tie to federal priorities and executive directives?

The solicitation states that the work supports several Administration priorities and executive directives by helping protect infrastructure and ensuring reliable services. It specifically connects invasive mussel risk reduction to protecting hydropower and water delivery infrastructure.

Which executive orders and secretarial orders are referenced in the opportunity description?

The opportunity references Executive Order 14154 and Interior Secretarial Order 3418 on "Unleashing American Energy," Executive Order 14156 declaring a national energy emergency, Executive Order 14181 regarding emergency measures for water resources in California and disaster response, and Executive Order 14303 regarding applying the "Gold Standard of Science."

Why are hydropower facilities mentioned in the solicitation?

The opportunity describes invasive mussels as a threat to hydropower infrastructure because they can damage intake structures, clog water conveyance, and increase maintenance costs. The modeling work is positioned as supporting efforts to protect these facilities.

Why is California water delivery infrastructure mentioned?

The solicitation positions golden mussel risk reduction as a way to safeguard water delivery infrastructure investments in California, linking the work to emergency measures for water resources and disaster response.

What does the solicitation mean by the "Gold Standard of Science"?

It signals expectations for rigorous and defensible methods, transparent analysis, and scientifically credible results, as referenced by Executive Order 14303.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to participating partners of the Californian CESU Program.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The funding is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 15.808.

What type of award instrument will be used?

The instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial federal involvement is expected during the project.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The opportunity lists Expected Awards: 1, indicating USGS anticipates making a single award.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling is $250,000.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The agency is the Geological Survey (USGS).

When was this opportunity created, and what is the closing date?

The opportunity was created on 2026-08-12, and the listed original closing date is 2026-09-12.

Which geographic areas are explicitly included in the technical scope?

The scope explicitly includes Washington State (integration of a road network model into an existing risk assessment for quagga and zebra mussels) and California (development of a standardized golden mussel risk assessment).

What is the CESU network used for in this opportunity?

The CESU Program is the mechanism used to offer the cooperative agreement and to limit eligibility to participating partners, with this specific opportunity being run through the Californian CESU.