Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
The U.S. Geological Survey seeks a Great Lakes-Northern Forest cooperative ecosystem studies partner to use prairie monitoring data to identify effective invasive plant management under varying weather conditions.
Funder: U.S. Geological Survey
Due Dates: November 30, 2026 (Applications, 11:59 PM ET)
Funding Amounts: $370,000 estimated total funding for one two-year cooperative agreement; award range $1–$370,000
Summary: Supports research using Prairie Reconstruction Initiative data to improve Midwest prairie restoration under invasive plant pressures and changing weather conditions.
Key Information: Applicants must be participating partners of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.
Description
The U.S. Geological Survey’s National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center offers a competitive cooperative agreement for adaptive prairie restoration research in the Midwest. The project will use the Prairie Reconstruction Initiative (PRI) database, managed by a multi-agency partnership led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Since 2012, PRI has collected planting, monitoring, invasive species, and management records from 160 locations across several Midwest states.
The research will identify how weather, restored plant communities, and management interventions affect establishment and invasion. Findings should help managers choose effective restoration strategies, refine objectives under future weather and invasion scenarios, and identify opportunities for monitoring to provide early warnings. The work supports science-based conservation, recreational opportunities, and preparedness for invasive species-associated hazards, including wildfire.
