UMRS Forest Resources Inventory and Analysis | W81EWF 25 SOI 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 25 SOI 0001

The UMRS Forest Resources Inventory and Analysis opportunity is a cooperative agreement focused on strengthening forest management on the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) by improving how forest conditions are measured, compared over time, and translated into on-the-ground decisions. The core idea is that reliable forest resource data, collected consistently and analyzed across multiple scales (individual stands, larger management areas, river reaches, and entire river systems), is essential for setting defensible management objectives and tracking how floodplain forests are changing. The project builds on work already completed, including an initial forest resource survey across all Rivers Project Office (RPO) lands and a second inventory plus a full comparison analysis for Mississippi River Pool 24. This new effort expands that approach to additional river pools, with the intent to create a clearer picture of current conditions and trends that directly supports USACE management decisions.

Work is organized across two years. Year 1 concentrates on conducting additional forest inventories in Mississippi River Pool 25. Year 2 continues with more inventory work and completes a comparative analysis between the two inventory iterations for Pool 25, similar to what was done for Pool 24. The announcement also notes that additional inventories may be required to support the analysis, potentially extending fieldwork into Mississippi River Pools 25 and 26, the Open River, and the lower Illinois River. In practical terms, applicants should expect a mix of field-based data collection and technical analysis that compares datasets over time to detect changes in forest composition, structure, health, and regeneration.

A major driver for this opportunity is the recognized gap in post-treatment monitoring. USACE has carried out floodplain forest management on the UMRS for more than three decades, using actions such as reforestation, interplanting, timber stand improvement (TSI), prescribed burning, and invasive species treatments, but follow-up monitoring has been limited. This project is meant to address that shortfall by not only conducting forest management actions where needed, but also evaluating their effects on stand condition, species composition, and regeneration success. That evaluation component is important because it ties management investments to measurable outcomes, helping refine which practices work best under floodplain conditions and which need adjustment.

The opportunity also supports updates to the Upper Mississippi River Systemic Forest Stewardship Plan (Guyon et al., 2012), which USACE foresters use as a guiding framework for coordinated planning and prescriptions along the river. Using lessons learned from recent projects, the revision is expected to add more detailed research and development elements aimed at defining desired future conditions for different floodplain forest community types and stand structures. A key emphasis is linking forest conditions to wildlife outcomes, especially for species of concern. That means the project will likely need to identify specific habitat requirements and translate them into forest management objectives so that active forestry work can be evaluated not just for tree metrics, but for whether it is meeting wildlife management goals.

Invasive species are highlighted as one of the biggest threats to the integrity of floodplain forest habitat, with Japanese hops singled out as a rapidly expanding annual vine that can quickly dominate canopy gaps and suppress natural regeneration. Reed canary grass is also mentioned as a problematic invasive in similar contexts. A stated objective is to identify innovative and economically feasible approaches to quickly reforest canopy gaps so invasives do not capture those openings, which suggests the work may involve testing or evaluating establishment methods, site prep, planting strategies, or other practical restoration techniques suited to floodplain environments.

Another major concern addressed by the project is Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and its impact on green ash, described here as the second most dominant tree within RPO management areas. The project calls for describing current and projected impacts of EAB-driven ash loss and producing a Special Status Report that explains what happens to floodplain forest conditions after green ash declines, including the risk that invasives such as Japanese hops could dominate the newly created canopy gaps. This report is intended to help managers anticipate changes and plan proactive responses rather than reacting after widespread mortality occurs.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) under CFDA 12.630, offered as a cooperative agreement. The funding opportunity number is W81EWF 25 SOI 0001, with an award ceiling of $50,000 and an expectation of one award. The original closing date is listed as 2025-01-31. Eligibility is restricted to non-federal partners of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU), so applicants must fit within that partnership structure. The announcement also underscores that disclosures of current and pending support can affect eligibility and that ERDC may request updated information both before award and during performance, with the possibility of discontinuing funding based on those reviews. Religious organizations are explicitly eligible to compete on the same basis as secular organizations in line with Executive Order 13798.

• The Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "UMRS Forest Resources Inventory and Analysis" 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 2024-12-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-31. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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