Interior Least Tern Monitoring on the McClellan Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in the Little Rock Corps District
This grant funds monitoring and habitat assessment of interior least terns along the Arkansas River in the Little Rock Corps District to support conservation and ecosystem health.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
Engineer Research and Development Center has archived this opportunity.
Funder: Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
Due Dates: July 25, 2025 (Statement of Interest) | August 13, 2025 (Full Proposal, by invitation)
Funding Amounts: Up to $48,000 per year; total program funding $240,000 over 5 years
Summary: Supports monitoring and habitat assessment of Interior Least Tern populations along the Arkansas River and adjacent rooftop colonies to inform conservation and restoration efforts.
Key Information: Eligibility is restricted to non-federal partners of the Great Rivers or Gulf Coast CESU.
Description
This opportunity, offered by the US Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), supports research and monitoring of the Interior Least Tern (ILT) along the McClellan Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in the Little Rock Corps District. The ILT, a fish-eating bird previously listed as endangered, has experienced significant habitat loss due to river engineering and water resource development. Although recent conservation efforts have improved conditions, continued monitoring is needed to assess population trends and habitat quality.
The funded work will focus on:
- Conducting breeding season monitoring, nest inventories, and habitat assessments of ILT populations.
- Monitoring at least 12 river colony locations and 3–5 rooftop colonies between Fort Smith and the Mississippi River, Arkansas.
- Sharing results to increase public awareness and inform conservation strategies, with the aim of improving local biodiversity and watershed health.
