Population size, mobility, and early life history of Razorback Suckers in the San Juan River | BOR UC 17 N003

FAQs: Population size, mobility, and early life history of Razorback Suckers in the San Juan River (BOR UC 17 N003)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Population size, mobility, and early life history of Razorback Suckers in the San Juan River."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is BOR UC 17 N003.

Which federal agency is offering the grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.

What type of grant is this?

This is a Bureau of Reclamation discretionary grant.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is under CFDA 15.517.

What broader program does this project fit within?

This project sits within the San Juan Recovery Implementation Program (SJRIP), a multi-agency effort focused on endangered fish recovery in the San Juan River Basin.

When did the San Juan Recovery Implementation Program (SJRIP) begin?

The SJRIP was launched in October 1992.

Which endangered fish species are covered under the SJRIP?

The SJRIP focuses on four federally listed endangered fishes: Colorado Pikeminnow, Razorback Sucker, Humpback Chub, and Bonytail.

What species is the main focus of this specific grant project?

The core biological focus of this project is the Razorback Sucker.

What are the main scientific questions this project is meant to address?

The project centers on three linked questions: (1) population size/status (how many fish are present), (2) mobility and seasonal habitat use (how fish move through the system), and (3) early life history (what is happening during the earliest stages of life, including whether natural recruitment is occurring).

What does "early life history" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the description provided, early life history refers to the earliest stages of Razorback Sucker development and survival, with attention to whether young fish are produced and survive naturally (natural recruitment) rather than relying entirely on hatchery supplementation.

What is meant by "natural recruitment" in the San Juan River context?

Natural recruitment here refers to the possibility that young Razorback Suckers could be produced and survive in the river-reservoir habitat complex without complete dependence on hatchery supplementation.

Why does the opportunity emphasize a connected river-reservoir system?

The opportunity is grounded in the idea that the San Juan River includes a connected river-reservoir habitat complex, and that connectivity between river and reservoir habitats may influence survival, movement, spawning, nursery use, and the potential for natural recruitment.

What is Piute Farms Waterfall and why is it important to this study?

Piute Farms Waterfall is highlighted because waterfalls and similar features can act as partial or complete movement barriers. The opportunity notes a high abundance of fish below this waterfall and seeks to clarify the role of downstream reservoir and associated habitats for Razorback Suckers occurring below the feature in the lower San Juan River.

Which geographic area is specifically emphasized for population status work?

The description emphasizes establishing the current status of native fish populations in the area below Piute Farms Waterfall.

What kinds of work are investigators expected to do under this project?

The work is framed as management-relevant monitoring and research, including (1) establishing current status of native fish populations below the waterfall, (2) collecting and analyzing fish movement data to quantify seasonal use across both river and lake portions of the system, and (3) evaluating barriers to fish movement within the basin.

What does "establish the current status of native fish populations" imply?

Based on the description, it implies field sampling designed to describe presence and abundance, and potentially additional indicators of population condition such as size/age structure or related measures.

What does the grant description say about fish movement and seasonal habitat use?

It emphasizes collecting and analyzing movement data to quantify seasonal use across the connected river and lake portions of the system, with the goal of understanding when and how fish transition among habitats over the year.

Why is a seasonal perspective emphasized for movement and habitat use?

The description notes that spawning, feeding, overwintering, and nursery use can depend on different habitat types, and that river flows and reservoir conditions can vary dramatically across seasons.

Does the opportunity specify the exact methods to be used (for example telemetry)?

No specific methods are mandated in the text provided. It notes that objectives like these often involve tagging and tracking (for example, telemetry or mark-recapture approaches) paired with regular surveys, but those are presented as examples of common approaches rather than stated requirements.

What is the applied management question about connectivity mentioned in the opportunity?

A major applied question is whether seasonal access from below the waterfall into upstream river reaches could help bolster mainstem populations of native fishes.

What does the opportunity say about evaluating movement barriers?

It calls for evaluation of barriers to fish movement within the basin, including but not limited to Piute Farms Waterfall, to better understand where movement is blocked, seasonally constrained, or selectively passable.

How are the expected study results intended to be used?

The project is intended to produce critical information for water and habitat management decision-making, helping managers adjust operations in ways that better support endangered fish life cycles under changing water operations and habitat conditions.

What kinds of management decisions could this project inform (as described in the opportunity)?

The description suggests the findings could inform practical questions such as when certain habitats need to be inundated or connected, how flow timing might influence spawning and larval drift, and whether structural or operational changes could improve passage or reduce ecological bottlenecks.

What is the overall purpose of the science funded by this opportunity?

The underlying purpose is to generate actionable science that helps ensure management actions in the basin do not jeopardize the continued existence of listed endangered fish species, especially as water operations and habitat conditions change over time.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant?

Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

What does the eligibility restriction suggest about the type of applicant expected?

Based on the description, it signals an emphasis on university-led research capacity (public and state-controlled higher education institutions).

What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The award ceiling is $180,902.

How many awards were expected?

The posting indicates one expected award.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on February 13, 2017.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was February 27, 2017.

What does the short application window indicate about the solicitation?

Based on the description provided, it reflects a short application window typical of targeted research solicitations tied to specific management needs and timing considerations such as field seasons.

How would you summarize this grant in plain terms?

It is a focused, single-award research and monitoring project intended to fill key knowledge gaps about Razorback Sucker population dynamics, seasonal movements, early life history, and habitat connectivity (including barriers) in the San Juan River system, with the goal of translating findings into better recovery and water-management outcomes under the SJRIP.