Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU | G20AS00137

Opportunity Information: Apply for G20AS00137

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G20AS00137) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research grant issued under the Department of the Interior. It is a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which typically means the USGS expects to be substantially involved in the project as it is carried out (for example, through coordination on technical approaches, data use, and research direction). The activity focus falls under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and it is associated with CFDA number 15.808.

The purpose of the award is to support a CESU partner in conducting research on coastal processes that are important to both USGS and coastal managers, with a strong emphasis on advancing modern, coupled numerical modeling to better predict coastal change along U.S. shorelines. In practical terms, the project centers on improving how tides, waves, storm surge, and storm-driven coastal morphology (how beaches, dunes, and nearshore areas erode and reshape during storms) are modeled together as one interconnected system. By treating these drivers as coupled rather than isolated, the resulting predictions are intended to better represent real storm behavior and the physical changes storms can cause to coastal landscapes.

A key expected outcome is the development of a new modeling methodology that uses the ADCIRC-SWAN modeling system. ADCIRC is widely used for simulating water levels and storm surge, while SWAN is commonly used for simulating wave conditions; coupling them helps capture the interaction between surge and waves that can strongly influence coastal flooding and erosion. The project is expected to apply this coupled approach to assess return-period floodplains, meaning mapped flood extents tied to specific statistical storm probabilities (such as the kind of events often described as 10-year, 50-year, or 100-year storms). Beyond simply mapping flood likelihood, the work is meant to link flooding to resulting coastal change, recognizing that flood impacts and shoreline/dune impacts are connected parts of the same storm response.

Another central feature of the opportunity is explicit consideration of future conditions, particularly changes such as sea level rise. Rather than treating floodplains and coastal change as fixed based on historical or present-day baselines, the methodology is expected to incorporate how rising sea levels can alter storm surge heights, wave impacts, inundation patterns, and erosion potential over time. This forward-looking aspect is important because many coastal risk decisions involve long-lived infrastructure, habitat conservation, and community planning that must remain effective under changing climate and ocean conditions.

From a management and decision-support standpoint, the USGS frames this work as directly informing planning for future storms and sea level rise impacts on coastal communities and ecosystems. The deliverables are therefore intended to be usable for applied decision-making, such as improving coastal hazard assessments, supporting storm preparedness and mitigation planning, informing resilience investments, and helping resource managers anticipate where ecosystems (like wetlands, barrier islands, and dune systems) may be most vulnerable to storm-driven change. In short, the grant is designed to strengthen the scientific and modeling foundation behind coastal flood and erosion risk estimates so agencies and communities can make better-informed choices about adaptation and long-term coastal management.

The award structure and basic logistics are straightforward. The opportunity anticipated a single award with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $150,000 and an expected number of awards of 1. Eligibility is limited to CESU partners, referenced as "Others" with clarification in the full eligibility text, which signals that the applicant must be part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit network, specifically aligned with the Gulf Coast CESU. The opportunity was created on August 17, 2020, with an original closing date of August 28, 2020, indicating a short application window typical of targeted, partnership-based research solicitations.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 17, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 28, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G20AS00137

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