Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
USGS offers funding for research on remote sensing algorithms to monitor phytoplankton in the Barataria estuary, supporting ecosystem health and aligning with conservation and restoration executive and secretarial orders.
Funder: Geological Survey
Due Dates: June 29, 2026: Full application deadline (electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM ET on this date)
Funding Amounts: Up to $400,000 total over five years; anticipated one award; no cost-sharing required.
Summary: Supports a CESU partner to develop and validate remote sensing algorithms for monitoring phytoplankton communities in the Barataria estuary.
Key Information: Applicants must be a participating partner of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).
Description
This opportunity, offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), funds research focused on developing and validating remote sensing algorithms to monitor estuarine phytoplankton communities in the Barataria estuary. The project aims to advance the use of satellite and hyperspectral remote sensing to assess phytoplankton, which are critical to aquatic food webs and ecosystem health. The work aligns with multiple federal Executive Orders and Secretarial Orders on conservation, scientific integrity, wetland protection, and restoration of natural resources.
Key research objectives include:
- Collecting and processing high-resolution satellite and hyperspectral imagery for the Barataria estuary.
- Analyzing seasonal satellite data using semi-analytical algorithms based on phytoplankton pigments.
- Characterizing phytoplankton community composition and biomass, and evaluating their influence on aquatic food webs.
The project is intended to support evidence-based management and restoration of estuarine and wetland ecosystems.
