Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
The U.S. Geological Survey funds a Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit partner to develop tools for chronic wasting disease prevention and long-term management in the northeastern and western U.S.
Funder: U.S. Geological Survey
Due Dates: November 14, 2026 (Applications, 11:59 p.m. ET)
Funding Amounts: $200,000 estimated total funding for one three-year cooperative agreement; award range $1–$200,000
Summary: Supports chronic wasting disease research and decision-support tools for long-term prevention and management in the northeastern and western United States.
Key Information: Applicants must be participating partners of the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).
Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offers this cooperative agreement for chronic wasting disease (CWD) research supporting prevention and management in the northeastern and western United States. Building on existing collaborations with natural resource agencies, the project focuses on long-term decisions before and after disease arrival, including surveillance, harvest policies, animal transport restrictions, carcass disposal, hunter outreach, and culling.
The research will refine linked decision-support tools that model CWD prevalence, costs, and active hunter participation under alternative management strategies. Particular priorities include estimating disease introduction into the northeastern United States through multiple pathways and testing surveillance and public communication strategies. The partner will work with management agencies and stakeholders to identify tool needs and develop generalized quantitative models useful across multiple states and regions.
