Cooperative Agreement with a partner of the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. | G21AS00416

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is G21AS00416.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (USGS-FRESC).

What type of award is this?

This is a discretionary cooperative agreement.

What does a cooperative agreement imply for how the project is conducted?

A cooperative agreement typically means there is substantial involvement and collaboration between the federal agency (USGS) and the recipient during the project period, rather than the project being carried out independently by the awardee.

What program or assistance listing is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.808, described as supporting science and technology research and development.

What ecosystem and region does the project focus on?

The focus is on sagebrush ecosystems in the Great Basin.

What is the central aim of the project?

The central aim is to improve how land and fire managers measure and compare the real-world effectiveness of fuel breaks over time and across landscapes.

What is meant by evaluating fuel breaks "over time and across landscapes"?

The opportunity emphasizes assessing performance across spatiotemporal scales, meaning fuel break effectiveness should be evaluated under different conditions, across different places, and over multiple years, not just as a one-time or single-location result.

How does the opportunity define the way fuel breaks should be evaluated?

Rather than treating fuel breaks as isolated strips on a map, the project evaluates fuel breaks at two levels: individual fuel breaks and interconnected fuel break networks.

What is the intended outcome of the research?

The intended outcome is a defensible, consistent, repeatable way to determine what "success" looks like for fuel breaks, how to quantify it, and how to weigh benefits against ecological costs.

What are the main components of the research plan?

The research plan has three main components:

1. Identify initial fuel break performance metrics using expert judgment, retrospective analyses of past fire events, relevant literature, and information from ongoing field studies.
2. Use modeling of potential fire behavior and fire spread to test the metrics and compare fuel break designs/configurations under a range of scenarios.
3. Evaluate trade-offs associated with fuel break networks using a multi-factor approach that considers fire outcomes and risks to valued resources.

How will the project develop initial fuel break performance metrics?

The initial metrics will be identified by combining: expert judgment, retrospective analyses of past fire events, science and management literature, and information from ongoing field studies.

What role does modeling play in the project?

Modeling of potential fire behavior and fire spread will be used to test the proposed metrics and to compare how different fuel break designs and configurations perform across scenarios.

What does the opportunity mean by "fuel break networks"?

Fuel break networks refer to fuel breaks considered as an interconnected system across the landscape, where placement, spacing, and configuration can influence fire behavior and outcomes.

What kinds of trade-offs will be evaluated?

The project will evaluate trade-offs using a multi-factor approach, explicitly considering fire-related outcomes along with risks to valued resources.

Why is greater sage-grouse emphasized in this opportunity?

The opportunity highlights potential impacts to greater sage-grouse populations and their habitat because fuel treatments may reduce wildfire risk while also changing vegetation structure, habitat connectivity, and other ecological characteristics important to sensitive species.

How does the opportunity balance wildfire risk reduction with ecological concerns?

The stated intent is to help design and evaluate fuel break networks that can reduce wildfire severity and improve firefighter and public safety while also minimizing unintended harm to wildlife and native habitats.

What kind of deliverables are expected?

Deliverables are framed as practical, management-oriented products such as usable tools, databases, and guidelines to support evidence-based design and evaluation of fuel break networks.

Is this opportunity intended to be academic research only?

No. A key theme is practical applicability for management, with work expected to be carried out in coordination with management agencies so that outputs align with operational needs.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, because the award is issued under the CESU framework.

Why is eligibility limited to Rocky Mountains CESU partners?

The opportunity is issued under the CESU framework, which is designed to connect federal agencies with partner institutions for research, technical assistance, and education; the notice specifies eligibility is limited to existing participating partners.

What is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount) listed?

The listed award ceiling is $181,534.

When was this opportunity created and when did it originally close?

The opportunity was created on March 23, 2021, with an original closing date of April 9, 2021.

What management decisions is this project meant to support?

The project is meant to help decision-makers move from general assumptions about fuel breaks to evidence-based design and evaluation methods, including methods that can be updated iteratively as new data and insights become available.

What does "iterative, analytical framework" mean in this context?

It refers to developing a structured approach for evaluating fuel break performance that can be applied repeatedly, refined, and updated as new data, analyses, and lessons learned become available.