Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
Geological Survey funding supports research on PFAS accumulation in wild rice and arrowhead and how traditional food processing affects PFAS levels at up to four sites in the Ceded Territories.
Funder: Geological Survey
Due Dates: December 7, 2026 (Applications, 11:59 p.m. ET)
Funding Amounts: $377,021 estimated total for one three-year cooperative agreement; $177,021 estimated for Year 1
Summary: Supports research on PFAS accumulation in wild rice and arrowhead and the effects of traditional food processing.
Key Information: Applicants must be Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU partners with established Tribal community relationships in the Ceded Territories.
Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seeks a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partner to investigate PFAS bioaccumulation and partitioning in wild rice (Manoomin) and arrowhead (Wapato). Research will cover up to four PFAS-impacted aquatic sites within the Ceded Territories, measuring 40 PFAS analytes in surface water, sediment, plant tissues, and finished or cooked traditional foods using EPA Method 1633.
The project will examine how PFAS moves into different plant structures and how traditional preparation changes contaminant concentrations. Sampling and field activities will be conducted with Tribal communities and the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), respecting cultural collection and processing protocols. Datasets, analyses, and reports are intended to inform Tribal health decisions, natural resource management, and broader PFAS risk assessments.
