B -- EVALUATION OF PERIPHYTON-ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENTS IN WESTERN STREAMS

Notice Date

March 9, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333

ZIP Code

97333

Solicitation Number

TBN-10017

Response Due

April 20, 2001

Point of Contact

Dr. John Stoddard, 541-754-4441

E-Mail Address

Contact Dr. John Stoddard (stoddard.john@epa.gov)

Description

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory (NHEERL), Western Ecology Division (WED), as part of a broad research effort called the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), has initiated a survey of the biological condition of western streams and rivers and environmental factors that might be associated with good or poor condition. The primary objectives are to: (1) develop the monitoring tools (biological indicators, stream survey design, estimates of reference condition) necessary to produce unbiased estimates of the ecological condition of surface waters across a large geographic area (or areas) of the West; (2) demonstrate those tools in a large-scale assessment; and (3) determine the relative risk to surface waters from a comprehensive list of potential stressors. Short Description: EMAP-Western Pilot (EMAP-W) will utilize a probability design, by which sites are chosen to be statistically representative of the population of perennial streams and rivers across the West (the conterminous portions of EPA Regions 8, 9 and 10). In addition, more spatially-intensive designs will be utilized within one or more special focus areas in each Region (e.g., the John Day/Deschutes River Basins in Region 10, the Northern California Coast Range in Region 9, and the Upper Missouri River Basin in Region 8). While most of these efforts will be focused on flowing waters, the Region 8 intensive area will also assess the condition of large reservoirs on the main stem of the Upper Missouri River. Cooperative assistance: The research to be conducted under this cooperative agreement will focus on the interpretation of the biological condition of streams and rivers through an enumeration and analysis of periphyton assemblages (and associated measurements such as chlorophyll, ash-free dry mass) at sites sampled by EMAP crews during the four year survey. Given the integrated nature of the streams and rivers survey on multiple indicators, the periphyton research component will proceed as a cooperative effort involving principal investigator(s) selected through this competition, scientists from EPA's National Health and Ecological Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division in Corvallis, Oregon (NHEERL-WED), scientists from EPA Regions 8, 9, and 10, as well as participating state scientists. One cooperative agreement will be awarded to a single applicant or a consortium of applicants from this solicitation. The cooperative agreement will have a performance period of five years. The expected level of funding for the cooperative agreement could range up to $100,000 per year, subject to the availability of funding. Proposals for project funding must be received by April 20, 2001. They will be evaluated according to the criteria outlined in the full Request for Applications. Statutory authority for EPA funding of this cooperative agreement is found in the Clean Water Act, section 104, as amended. Interested applicants must be eligible to receive federal assistance under the Act and under 40 CFR Part 30, "Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and other Non-Profit Organizations"; Part 31, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments"; and Part 40, Research and Demonstration Grants". Only state and local governments, institutions of higher education, individuals, or nonprofit research organizations eligible to receive federal assistance under this Act should submit applications. To obtain a complete copy of the Request for Applications, go to http://www.epa.gov/wed and select "Doing Business With WED" from the menu. For additional information about the research, contact Dr. John Stoddard, Western Ecology Division, USEPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, (541) 754-4441, FAX (541) 754-4716.

Web Link

Select "Doing Business With WED" (http://www.epa.gov/wed)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010313/BSOL001.HTM (W-068 SN50F7Q9)