Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
This grant funds research to identify and predict Black Carp habitats in the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to improve monitoring and removal of this invasive species.
Funder: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Due Dates: September 22, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)
Funding Amounts: Up to $48,500 total; one award anticipated for a two-year project period.
Summary: Supports research to identify and predict Black Carp habitats in the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to improve targeted removal and management efforts.
Key Information: Only Great Rivers CESU partner institutions are eligible to apply.
Description
This opportunity, issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), funds research to improve understanding and management of the invasive Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the Mississippi River Basin. Black Carp, initially introduced for biological control, have established reproducing populations, posing significant threats to native mussel and snail fauna and potentially the Great Lakes ecosystem.
The project’s primary objective is to develop an analytical framework that integrates commercial and biologist capture data, telemetry relocation datasets, and geospatial information to identify and predict potential Black Carp habitats in the upper Mississippi River and Illinois River. The results will directly inform and enhance the efficiency of monitoring and removal efforts by targeting likely habitats.
