Assessment of Secondary Production of Restored Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Beds in the Lynnhaven River, VA | W81EWF 24 SOI 0002

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 24 SOI 0002

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement titled "Assessment of Secondary Production of Restored Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Beds in the Lynnhaven River, VA" (Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 24 SOI 0002; CFDA 12.630). The project focuses on science and technology and other research and development, with a single anticipated award and a funding ceiling of $120,000. Eligibility is limited to non-federal partners within the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU), which means applicants must be part of that CESU network and cannot be a federal entity.

The solicitation uses a two-phase application process. Applicants must first submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) by November 30, 2023, and then invited or selected applicants submit a full proposal by January 8, 2024. The intent of this structure is to screen for fit and capability before requiring the time and detail of a full technical proposal.

The core objective is to monitor and estimate secondary production associated with restored submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beds in the Lynnhaven River, Virginia, and to compare production across habitats. In practical terms, this means measuring the production of animal biomass supported by the SAV system, then comparing those values between two restored SAV species patches and nearby non-vegetated control areas. The comparison element is central: the work is not only about documenting what lives in the restored beds, but also about quantifying how much additional ecological production those beds generate relative to similar bottom types that lack vegetation.

Fieldwork is expected to include comprehensive biological sampling within both SAV species beds, covering benthic infauna (organisms living within the sediment), epifauna (organisms living on the sediment surface or on plant blades), and larger motile fauna that use the beds for habitat. In addition to sampling inside the vegetation, the project must also sample multiple unvegetated control sites outside the SAV beds. These control areas need to have comparable bottom conditions, described as sand to silty sand, so that differences in fauna and production can be attributed more confidently to the presence or absence of SAV rather than to unrelated substrate differences.

The opportunity allows flexibility in how fish and crabs are sampled, as long as the methods produce quantitative data suitable for estimating abundance and production. Acceptable approaches include, but are not limited to, nets, traps, underwater video, and direct observational techniques. This suggests the Corps is open to method combinations that match site conditions and target organisms, but will expect defensible sampling design, repeatability, and clear links between observations and production calculations.

Taxonomic resolution requirements are spelled out at a practical level. Most fauna can be grouped into broad taxonomic categories such as polychaetes, nematodes, shrimp, amphipods, and isopods. Fish should be identified to species when possible, and if not, to the nearest reasonable taxonomic group. Two commercially important species receive special emphasis: blue crabs and hard clams must be processed separately so the project can produce individual secondary production estimates for each of those species, rather than lumping them into broader categories.

Laboratory processing is a required component, because production estimates depend on biomass measurements. Samples must be processed to estimate tissue dry weight and ash-free dry weight (a common metric used to approximate organic biomass by removing inorganic material). These data are then used to calculate fauna biomass per unit area within the SAV beds, and ultimately to produce overall secondary production estimates per acre for each SAV species bed. The expectation is that the results will be scaled in a way that managers can use directly, such as production per acre for eelgrass versus widgeongrass habitat.

The work must culminate in a written report that clearly summarizes methods, results, and any appropriate recommendations. Given the restoration and management context, recommendations could include guidance on monitoring approaches, implications for habitat value, or considerations for future restoration phasing, but the solicitation leaves the exact scope of recommendations to what the findings support.

The study is tied to an expanding set of restored SAV sites, so the project must be designed to accommodate phased restoration. Phase 1 (the pilot study area) includes two acres of eelgrass and widgeongrass constructed in 2021. An additional five acres of test plots were constructed in 2022. During the project performance period, roughly 20 more acres are planned in a phased approach (10 acres in 2023 and 10 acres in 2024), and the secondary production assessment is expected to incorporate those new acres after construction. In other words, the monitoring and analysis plan should be scalable and adaptable, so it can extend from the initial pilot acreage to newly restored plots as they come online.

All activities must be conducted in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, which would cover the typical permitting, animal handling, habitat access, and environmental compliance requirements for estuarine field sampling and laboratory processing. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at producing defensible, quantitative estimates of how restored SAV beds in the Lynnhaven River contribute to secondary production, how that contribution differs between SAV species, and how restored habitat compares to nearby unvegetated bottom in the same system.

• The 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 "Assessment of Secondary Production of Restored Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Beds in the Lynnhaven River, VA" 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 2023-10-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-08. (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 $120,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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