Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 24 SOI 0004
The National Information Collaboration on Ecohydraulics (NICE): Numerical Models for Fish opportunity is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers research and development cooperative agreement focused on improving how hydraulic modeling is used to understand and support fish movement around navigation infrastructure. It centers on the Mississippi River system, where locks, dams, navigation channels, and sediment management sites are widespread and where there is growing pressure to understand how navigation operations affect fisheries. A key problem motivating the funding is that most locks and dams in the Mississippi Basin and much of the southeastern U.S. were not designed for native fish passage, yet they now influence fish movement in ways that matter for conservation, Endangered Species Act-listed species, and even management of aquatic nuisance species. The broader aim is to find workable strategies that help fish move past locks and dams without disrupting navigation.
The technical objective is to advance multidimensional numerical hydraulic modeling in the complex, high-turbulence, hard-to-measure areas near infrastructure, including dam gate wells, lock chambers, tailraces, and fishways. While 2D and 3D models can estimate flow conditions that fish respond to, the opportunity emphasizes that the real-world accuracy and precision needed for ecohydraulic applications is not well defined. Because of that, the project calls not only for improved modeling capability but also for new ways to evaluate model performance using metrics tied to observed fish behavior and outcomes, rather than relying solely on traditional hydraulic validation measures. In other words, the work is expected to connect engineering-grade flow predictions to biological relevance so that model outputs more reliably inform fish passage design and operational decisions.
Field applications are expected to occur at sites on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, with a particular emphasis on informing future fish passage structures in the middle Mississippi River. The work aligns with the NICE mission: applying ecohydraulic principles to navigation infrastructure at multiple scales and enabling better engineering forecasts of fisheries outcomes across different contexts and site conditions.
The anticipated public benefit is improved protection and recovery prospects for threatened and endangered fish species in the Mississippi River that could be affected by changes in lock use and broader navigation decisions. By supporting hydrologic connectivity and more fish-friendly infrastructure outcomes, the effort is also expected to benefit other aquatic species, help sustain trophic balance and biodiversity, and improve ecosystem goods and services. Those downstream benefits include recreational opportunities and associated economic value (including sports fishing), improved water quality, and healthier river ecosystems for present and future generations.
Administratively, this is a two-phase solicitation with a Statement of Interest (SOI) due December 18, 2023, followed by a full proposal due January 19, 2024. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding through a cooperative agreement under CFDA 12.630, with an award ceiling of $450,000. Eligibility is restricted to non-federal partners of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU). The funding opportunity number is W81EWF 24 SOI 0004, and the sponsoring agency is the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.Apply for W81EWF 24 SOI 0004
- The 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 "National Information Collaboration on Ecohydraulics (NICE): Numerical Models for Fish" 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 2023-11-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-19. (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 $450,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NICE - Numerical Models for Fish (USACE Cooperative Agreement)
What is the NICE: Numerical Models for Fish opportunity?
The National Information Collaboration on Ecohydraulics (NICE): Numerical Models for Fish opportunity is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) research and development cooperative agreement focused on improving how hydraulic modeling is used to understand and support fish movement around navigation infrastructure.
Which federal agency is sponsoring this funding?
The sponsoring agency is the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
What problem is motivating this funding opportunity?
A key motivating problem is that most locks and dams in the Mississippi Basin (and much of the southeastern U.S.) were not designed for native fish passage, yet they now influence fish movement in ways that matter for conservation, Endangered Species Act-listed species, and management of aquatic nuisance species.
What is the broader aim of the project?
The broader aim is to identify workable strategies that help fish move past locks and dams without disrupting navigation.
Where is the work expected to be focused geographically?
The opportunity centers on the Mississippi River system, including the Mississippi River and its tributaries, where navigation infrastructure (locks, dams, navigation channels, and sediment management sites) is widespread.
Are specific sites or sub-regions emphasized for field applications?
Yes. Field applications are expected at sites on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, with particular emphasis on informing future fish passage structures in the middle Mississippi River.
What types of infrastructure areas are of interest for modeling improvements?
The technical objective targets complex, high-turbulence, hard-to-measure areas near infrastructure, including dam gate wells, lock chambers, tailraces, and fishways.
What is the technical objective of the cooperative agreement?
The technical objective is to advance multidimensional numerical hydraulic modeling in challenging zones near navigation infrastructure where turbulence is high and measurements are difficult.
What kind of hydraulic models are relevant to this opportunity?
The opportunity discusses 2D and 3D numerical hydraulic models, particularly because these models can estimate flow conditions that fish respond to in and around navigation structures.
Why is model accuracy and precision a key issue in this opportunity?
The opportunity notes that, for ecohydraulic applications, the real-world accuracy and precision needed is not well defined. That creates a need both to improve modeling capability and to clarify how to judge whether a model is "good enough" for fish-related decisions.
How is model performance expected to be evaluated under this project?
The project calls for new ways to evaluate model performance using metrics tied to observed fish behavior and outcomes, rather than relying only on traditional hydraulic validation measures.
What does it mean to connect "engineering-grade" flow predictions to biological relevance?
In this opportunity, it means linking hydraulic model outputs (flow predictions) to fish behavior and outcomes so that model results more reliably inform fish passage design and operational decisions around navigation infrastructure.
What decisions or applications is this work meant to inform?
The work is expected to support fish passage design and operational decisions at navigation infrastructure, especially decisions affecting how fish move around locks and dams while maintaining navigation functions.
How does this opportunity align with the NICE mission?
It aligns with the NICE mission by applying ecohydraulic principles to navigation infrastructure at multiple scales and enabling better engineering forecasts of fisheries outcomes across different contexts and site conditions.
What public benefits are anticipated from this work?
Anticipated public benefits include improved protection and recovery prospects for threatened and endangered fish species in the Mississippi River that could be affected by changes in lock use and broader navigation decisions.
Does the opportunity describe benefits beyond fish passage?
Yes. The opportunity describes broader ecological and societal benefits such as supporting hydrologic connectivity, benefiting other aquatic species, sustaining trophic balance and biodiversity, and improving ecosystem goods and services.
What downstream benefits are mentioned in the opportunity description?
Downstream benefits mentioned include recreational opportunities and associated economic value (including sports fishing), improved water quality, and healthier river ecosystems for present and future generations.
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
This opportunity is offered as discretionary funding through a cooperative agreement.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 12.630.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is W81EWF 24 SOI 0004.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $450,000.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to non-federal partners of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU).
Is this a single-step application process?
No. It is a two-phase solicitation that begins with a Statement of Interest (SOI) and is followed by a full proposal.
When is the Statement of Interest (SOI) due?
The Statement of Interest (SOI) is due December 18, 2023.
When is the full proposal due?
The full proposal is due January 19, 2024.
What is the main technical challenge highlighted for modeling near navigation structures?
The opportunity highlights that the areas of interest are high-turbulence and hard to measure (for example, near gate wells, lock chambers, tailraces, and fishways), which makes accurate multidimensional modeling and meaningful evaluation more difficult.
Why is the Mississippi River system specifically important in this opportunity?
The Mississippi River system has widespread navigation infrastructure and growing pressure to understand how navigation operations affect fisheries, making it a priority setting for improving ecohydraulic modeling and fish passage strategies.
How does the opportunity relate to the Endangered Species Act (ESA)?
The opportunity notes that locks and dams influence fish movement in ways that matter for conservation and Endangered Species Act-listed species, and the anticipated benefits include improved protection and recovery prospects for threatened and endangered fish species.
Does the opportunity mention aquatic nuisance species?
Yes. It notes that altered fish movement around locks and dams can matter not only for conservation but also for management of aquatic nuisance species.
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