Willow Creek Reservoir Water Quality Research and Evaluation Studies | W81EWF 20 SOI 0007

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 20 SOI 0007

The Willow Creek Reservoir Water Quality Research and Evaluation Studies grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 20 SOI 0007) was a discretionary, science and technology focused cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Department of Defense). The project was centered on Willow Creek Reservoir near Heppner, Oregon, where recurring water quality problems have created persistent public health and environmental concerns. The funding aimed to support applied research that can directly inform reservoir restoration and long-term management decisions. The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $500,000, with one expected award, and originally closed on February 28, 2020 (created January 6, 2020). The CFDA number associated with the program is 12.630, and eligibility was described broadly as "Others" with further clarification expected in the full eligibility text.

The underlying problem the grant targets is a pattern of poor summer water quality conditions in the reservoir, especially dense cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms, low dissolved oxygen levels, and elevated nutrient concentrations. These conditions are not just aesthetic issues; cyanobacteria blooms can produce toxins that threaten fish and wildlife and can also expose people and pets to serious health risks, including acute illness and longer-term impacts such as neurological or liver damage. The reservoir is routinely posted with seasonal health advisories warning against unsafe recreation, and the area has experienced fish kills and foul odors, which in turn affects local quality of life, recreation, and tourism. The opportunity frames the work as building on prior studies and existing data while adding new monitoring and analysis to create an evaluation program that can guide restoration of both the reservoir and its upper basin.

The anticipated scope of work was organized into four main objectives. First, the awardee would conduct biweekly monitoring at key locations: the reservoir inflows and outflows, plus at least one representative site within the reservoir. This monitoring is meant to extend and strengthen a long-term dataset so managers can track trends, understand drivers of water quality degradation, and assess whether any implemented interventions are actually working over time. Second, the project would develop a whole-lake hydrodynamic model, essentially a system-scale simulation tool used to evaluate how water movement, temperature layering, and related processes influence water quality outcomes. That model would be used to test likely water quality trajectories under different future management strategies, helping decision-makers compare options before committing to costly operational or infrastructure changes.

A third objective focused specifically on the reservoir's existing aeration system. The grant called for a re-evaluation of the installed aeration equipment to determine how efficiently it is operating and whether it should be modified. The opportunity highlights several practical levers: changing the timing of operation, switching between air and pure oxygen, or relocating and reconfiguring the equipment within the reservoir to improve performance. The intent is to determine whether aeration is meaningfully improving dissolved oxygen conditions and, by extension, whether it can help reduce the severity of nuisance conditions such as fish kills and odor events. The description also notes that once the system is evaluated, demonstrated efficacy could justify a longer-term study, implying that this award could lay the groundwork for extended monitoring and adaptive management.

The fourth objective emphasized communication and public value: presenting research results at both public and technical meetings to disseminate findings. That outreach component signals that the Corps expected the work to be understandable and usable not only by specialists but also by local stakeholders and community members who are directly affected by the reservoir's condition. Overall, the grant was structured to produce actionable science, combining routine field monitoring, predictive modeling, and evaluation of existing infrastructure so that future restoration actions can be based on evidence, measured against clear benchmarks, and communicated transparently to the public.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- Corps of Engineers in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Willow Creek Reservoir Water Quality Research and Evaluation Studies" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 06, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 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 $500,000.00 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).

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