Evaluation of Aquatic Vegetation Management Techniques at Wilmington District Lake Projects | W81EWF 22 SOI 0007

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 22 SOI 0007

The grant opportunity, titled "Evaluation of Aquatic Vegetation Management Techniques at Wilmington District Lake Projects," is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Department of Defense) cooperative agreement focused on applied research and field work at multiple reservoir projects managed by the Wilmington District. The overall purpose is to improve how the District tracks aquatic plant populations, controls invasive species (especially hydrilla), and expands beneficial native vegetation, while sharing results with both technical audiences and the public. The effort is structured as a base year plus four option years, with the specific tasks each year driven by study design decisions, lake conditions, and the funding available in that fiscal year. The recipient would provide quarterly status reports throughout performance and submit a final report at the end.

A major part of the work falls under Objective 1, which is about developing and evaluating practical monitoring methods to track changes in both native and invasive aquatic vegetation in reservoirs. This includes conducting surveys that measure the extent and volume of aquatic plant growth and estimating how much suitable habitat exists for future spread. The awardee is expected to identify and implement methods for whole-lake vegetation point surveys (to document where plants occur and how dense they are) and to sample hydrilla tuber banks (the underground tubers that allow hydrilla to persist and rebound after treatments). Survey and sampling needs are reassessed annually, but the anticipated base-year fieldwork includes whole-lake vegetation point surveys at Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, and Philpott Lake, along with tuber bank sampling at Falls Lake, Kerr Lake, and Philpott Lake. The first option year is expected to continue whole-lake vegetation point surveys and tuber bank sampling at Falls Lake, Kerr Lake, and Philpott Lake, with later option-year activities determined based on what is found and how conditions change.

Objective 2 shifts from measuring vegetation to actively evaluating management techniques aimed at controlling or eradicating invasive aquatic vegetation. The project calls for the researcher to identify, recommend, and evaluate chemical, biological, and/or mechanical control methods, and to assess how those treatments affect both the target invasives and the surrounding native plant community, including impacts on the hydrilla tuber bank. The notice notes that current management tools already in use include stocking triploid grass carp and applying selective herbicides, and it allows that recommended methods might be carried out by the government, its lessees, permit holders, and/or the researcher depending on the situation. In the base year, the anticipated work includes evaluating the effectiveness of the Corps ongoing triploid grass carp stocking program at Kerr Lake and evaluating herbicide treatments applied by the researcher at Philpott Lake (up to 33 acres of hydrilla and 2 acres of Brazilian elodea) and at Falls Lake (up to 7 acres of hydrilla). Option-year treatment evaluations are intentionally left flexible and would be based on site conditions and research findings.

Objective 3 focuses on the constructive side of vegetation management: promoting the spread of beneficial native aquatic vegetation. The grant envisions work that moves from planning to on-the-ground installation and follow-up, including identifying appropriate planting sites, checking sediment and water quality, selecting suitable native species, locating reliable plant sources, developing planting plans, installing the plants, and then tracking how those plantings perform over time. The base year is expected to include assessment and maintenance of existing native vegetation planting sites at Falls Lake, Kerr Lake, Philpott Lake, and Scott Lake, installation of new native vegetation planting sites at Jordan Lake, and water quality monitoring at Scott Lake. As with the other objectives, the exact option-year restoration activities would be adjusted based on what the sites need and what the earlier results show.

Objective 4 is dedicated to communication and technology transfer. The recipient is expected to present research results at public and technical meetings so that findings can inform broader aquatic vegetation management efforts across the region, not just at the individual lakes involved in the study. In practice, this means the project is not only about collecting data and testing interventions, but also about packaging results in a way that can influence future management decisions and stakeholder understanding.

Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement instrument, reflecting that the Corps expects to be actively involved in shaping or collaborating on the work rather than simply purchasing a service. It falls under a science and technology/research and development activity category (CFDA 12.630). The funding opportunity number is W81EWF 22 SOI 0007, with an anticipated single award and an award ceiling of $126,000. The original posting date was January 7, 2022, and the original closing date was March 7, 2022. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with details referenced in the opportunitys eligibility clarification field.

• The Department of Defense, 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 "Evaluation of Aquatic Vegetation Management Techniques at Wilmington District Lake Projects" 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 Jan 07, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 07, 2022. (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 $126,000.00 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).

Apply for W81EWF 22 SOI 0007

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