Monitoring Ecological Parameters in the Forested Wetlands of Southern Florida | W81EWF 21 SOI 0008

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 21 SOI 0008

The grant opportunity titled "Monitoring Ecological Parameters in the Forested Wetlands of Southern Florida" (Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 21 SOI 0008) is a discretionary funding solicitation issued by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Engineer Research and Development Center. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the federal sponsor is likely to have ongoing involvement in the work (for example, coordination on study design, site selection, deliverables, or integration with broader restoration monitoring efforts). The program falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is listed under CFDA 12.630. The opportunity was created on February 11, 2021, with an original closing date of April 3, 2021. The agency anticipated making a single award, with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $415,787.

At its core, the project is about keeping a long-running monitoring effort going in the forested wetland systems associated with Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay in southern Florida. The intent is not just to collect environmental measurements in isolation, but to continue an integrated dataset and analysis framework that supports restoration assessment. In practical terms, that means tracking how water conditions and ecological responses are changing over time, especially in areas where freshwater delivery and hydrologic restoration are central management concerns. The monitoring targets several interrelated ecological components: hydrology (the timing, depth, and movement of water), submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), the prey base (demersal fish and aquatic invertebrates), and Roseate Spoonbills, which are a prominent wading bird species often used as an indicator of ecosystem condition in south Florida coastal wetlands.

The described objective emphasizes systematic field sampling across at least six locations in the mainland dwarf mangrove habitats of southern Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay. "Systematic sampling" signals that the project is expected to follow a consistent, repeatable approach across sites and time, so trends can be compared and used in restoration evaluations. The work specifically calls for measuring demersal fish communities (bottom-associated fishes), along with salinity and water depth patterns. These physical measurements are meant to be directly linked to biological indicators: the abundance, diversity, and distribution of demersal fishes and SAV. In other words, the project is looking to connect freshwater flow and salinity regimes, including both overland flow and groundwater inputs, to the presence and condition of key habitat features and prey resources. This type of linkage is important in coastal wetlands where small shifts in freshwater delivery can significantly change salinity, vegetation communities, and the food web that supports fish and birds.

A notable implementation detail is that the selected sampling sites require approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). That requirement suggests the monitoring locations and methods need to align with USACE restoration or water management activities and that the project will be coordinated within an existing federal restoration assessment framework. The emphasis on maintaining a monitoring program also implies continuity is a priority: consistent stations, comparable methods, and ongoing analysis that can feed into performance measures or adaptive management decisions for restoration projects in the region.

Eligibility is broadly listed as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full opportunity text. While the snippet does not specify who qualifies, opportunities using this label often allow a range of non-federal entities depending on the agency's eligibility statement, such as universities, research institutions, non-profits, or other organizations with relevant scientific and field monitoring capacity. Overall, the grant is aimed at supporting applied ecological monitoring and analysis that can demonstrate how restoration-driven hydrologic changes influence salinity, habitat (including SAV), prey availability (fish and invertebrates), and higher-level wildlife indicators such as Roseate Spoonbills in the forested wetlands of southern Florida.

• The Department of Defense, Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Monitoring Ecological Parameters in the Forested Wetlands of Southern Florida" 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 Feb 11, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 03, 2021. (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 $415,787.00 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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