Funding Source: USGS Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Program

 

Funding Amounts: Four types of projects are addressed by this USGS funding source, subject to the following maximum funding levels:

·        Intensive Studies: $85,000/project/year

·        Synoptic Studies: $42,500/project/year

·        Fixed-Station Monitoring Studies: $42,500/project/year

·        Technical Assistance Requests: $10,000/request

 

Project duration: Not to exceed three years.

 

Number of projects per region: The number of submissions is intended to allow funding for approximately 50% of projects.  The region may adjust the submissions among categories, but not exceed the total project number.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recommended Category Distribution

 

 

 

 

Region

 

Total # Project Statements

 

Intensive/ Synoptic Studies

 

Fixed-Station Monitoring Studies

 

USGS Technical Assistance

 

Alaska

 

5

 

2

 

2

 

1

 

Intermountain

 

10

 

4

 

4

 

2

 

Midwest

 

5

 

2

 

2

 

1

 

National Capital

 

3

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

Northeast

 

5

 

2

 

2

 

1

 

Pacific West

 

10

 

4

 

4

 

2

 

Southeast

 

5

 

2

 

2

 

1

 

TOTALS

 

43

 

17

 

17

 

9

 

 

 

Subject of Projects: Projects will be accepted in the four categories below.  Project are encouraged to include a data analysis and interpretation component by USGS to make the information immediately applicable by NPS resource managers and also make specific provisions for park interpreters and the USGS to present the information to the public. 

 

1.  Intensive Studies: Relatively large projects of that require in-depth study of park water quality.  Designed to characterize known or suspected water-quality problems, these will also focus on understanding causes of contamination and the implications of water-quality impairment to aquatic biota.  Most intensive studies are strongly issue-driven and oriented towards priority water quality issues confronting the National Park Service.

 

2.  Synoptic Studies: Short-term investigations of water quality from several sites during selected seasonal periods or hydrologic conditions.  Designed to focus on park-specific issues that may have broader regional implications.  Synoptic studies are intended to provide a quick assessment of aquatic conditions at selected locations and to evaluate the spatial relationships or contributions to those conditions, or to provide baseline data and information where little exists.

 

3.  Fixed-Station Monitoring: Monitoring that documents long-term trends in water quality and determines if management actions are achieving water-quality objectives.  Fixed-station monitoring will be designed to enable park managers to know the health of nationally significant NPS water bodies, know the effects of remediation actions, and document whether external activities adversely affect park water quality.  Generally, fixed-station monitoring will be implemented using a “site rotation” concept.

 

4.  Technical Assistance: USGS technical assistance will consist of evaluating water-quality information and issues to assess watershed management, engineering, maintenance or regulatory actions to protect, mitigate or restore park water quality conditions.

 

 

USGS Coordination: Early in the process of assembling project proposals for submission, parks must contact local USGS offices to inform them of park needs, discuss strategies, and receive assistance in writing or revising project statements and addressing the ranking criteria.  The local USGS District Chief should certify each submission, indicating that the work is feasible and the schedule and costs are appropriate.

 

Documentation, Criteria, Selection and Approval Process, and Schedule: Standard requirements for proposals to the national program office are presented in section II., General Instructions.  For this partnership program, an NPS-USGS work group will evaluate the project statements submitted to the national office using the standard criteria plus criteria #9, Scientific Merit. The NPS-USGS work group will develop a list of priority projects for each funding category.  The NPS Water Resources Division will participate on the work group and will provide assistance to parks during all stages of the process.

 

Detailed Implementation Plans: For the projects chosen for funding, detailed implementation plans (or scopes of work) must be developed.  The implementation plans will be evaluated for technical adequacy by each park and participating USGS District Office, then submitted for approval by the applicable USGS Regional Office.  The NPS-USGS work group will then review USGS-approved implementation plans, with the assistance of independent reviewers as appropriate.  Implementation plans requiring revision will be returned to the USGS offices and/or parks.  Projects will not be initiated until implementation plans have received final approval from the NPS-USGS work group.

 

Proposal Preparation Technical Assistance: Guidance is available from the NPS and the USGS in preparing?  project statements for submission, preparing the overall project proposal submissions, and facilitating coordination with USGS.  To obtain assistance or information (including USGS District personnel who can assist your park), please contact Gary Rosenlieb, NPS-Water Resource Division, via cc:Mail or phone at 970-225-3518, or Mike Focazio, USGS, via e-mail (mfocazio@usgs.gov) or phone at 703-648-6808.

 

Reporting Requirements: Annual Accomplishment Reports for both multi-year and single year projects conducted by the USGS in FY2002 are due by October 30, 2002. Content and format guidance for this report will be provided to the field on or about April 1, 2001.