Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00277
The grant opportunity titled "Impact of forest restoration activities on soil compaction and soil biological communities" (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00277) is a Department of the Interior, National Park Service cooperative agreement focused on measuring how active forest restoration changes soils and soil life in the Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico. It sits within the Preserve's broader "Resilient Landscapes" effort, which aims to restore forested watersheds, wildlife habitat, and overall landscape conditions so that natural, low-intensity fire can again play its historical role in the Jemez Mountains. In practical terms, the restoration strategy combines mechanical thinning of dense stands (especially removing small-diameter trees) with subsequent planned, managed fires. The thinning is intended to reduce hazardous fuel loads and make future fires less severe, while the managed burns are meant to help reset ecological processes and improve long-term resilience to wildfire and climate stress.
A key feature of the project is its collaborative structure. More than 30 local and regional partners are involved, including state and federal agencies and neighboring Native American tribes. These collaborators help with planning and monitoring, while contractors carry out the tree removal and route the resulting material to a local timber mill. That approach ties ecological restoration to local economic benefits by supporting forest products manufacturing and job creation, rather than treating thinning residues purely as waste.
Within that larger partnership, Northern Arizona University's role is to conduct targeted monitoring on how thinning operations and prescribed fire affect soils. The work emphasizes soil compaction and broader soil physical structure, soil chemistry, and the response of soil-dwelling invertebrates, which are often used as indicators of belowground ecosystem health and recovery. Because thinning can involve heavy equipment and repeated traffic, one major concern is whether those activities compact soils, reduce pore space, alter infiltration and water storage, and ultimately influence plant regeneration and nutrient cycling. Planned fire can also shift soil chemistry and organic matter, so the monitoring is designed to track changes attributable to both treatments over time.
Another important dimension is wildlife and endangered species relevance. The soils component is explicitly tied to improving understanding of habitat impacts on the federally endangered Jemez Mountains Salamander, a terrestrial, soil-associated amphibian that depends on cool, moist, structurally intact forest floor and soil conditions. By documenting how restoration actions affect soil properties and soil communities, the project can help land managers better anticipate where treatments might improve salamander habitat, where they might pose risks, and what mitigation measures or timing constraints could reduce negative impacts.
The opportunity was released on June 1, 2018, with an original closing date of June 10, 2018. It is categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement instrument, under the Natural Resources activity category and CFDA 15.945. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting the research and monitoring emphasis. The anticipated award structure is a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $59,762. The deliverables implicitly include not only scientific monitoring results but also active information sharing: findings are intended to be communicated back to the many partner organizations and also to the general public through National Park Service interpretive programs, making the work both management-relevant and publicly accessible.Apply for P18AS00277
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Impact of forest restoration activities on soil compaction and soil biological communities" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 01, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 10, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $59,762.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Impact of forest restoration activities on soil compaction and soil biological communities."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P18AS00277.
Which agency is offering this funding?
This is a U.S. Department of the Interior opportunity administered by the National Park Service.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
Is this a competitive or discretionary opportunity?
It is identified as a discretionary funding opportunity.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates a single anticipated award (Expected Awards: 1).
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $59,762.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Natural Resources.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 15.945.
When was the opportunity released?
The opportunity was released on June 1, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was June 10, 2018.
Where will the work take place?
The project focuses on the Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico, within the Jemez Mountains landscape context.
What larger program or initiative does this project fit into?
It sits within the Preserve's broader "Resilient Landscapes" effort, which focuses on restoring forested watersheds, wildlife habitat, and landscape conditions so that natural, low-intensity fire can play its historical role.
What restoration actions are being studied?
The restoration strategy combines mechanical thinning of dense forest stands (especially removing small-diameter trees) with subsequent planned and managed fires (including prescribed fire).
Why is mechanical thinning part of the restoration strategy?
Thinning is intended to reduce hazardous fuel loads and help make future fires less severe.
Why are planned or managed fires part of the restoration strategy?
Managed burns are intended to help reset ecological processes and improve long-term resilience to wildfire and climate-related stress.
What is the main research and monitoring focus of this grant?
The monitoring focuses on how active forest restoration (thinning operations and prescribed fire) changes soils and soil life, with emphasis on soil compaction, soil physical structure, soil chemistry, and soil-dwelling invertebrate communities.
Why is soil compaction a concern in forest restoration projects?
Thinning can involve heavy equipment and repeated traffic, which can compact soils, reduce pore space, alter infiltration and water storage, and potentially affect plant regeneration and nutrient cycling.
How can fire affect soils in the context of this project?
Planned fire can shift soil chemistry and organic matter, so the monitoring is designed to track soil changes attributable to both thinning and fire over time.
What kinds of soil organisms are mentioned as indicators in this project?
The project highlights soil-dwelling invertebrates as indicators of belowground ecosystem health and recovery.
How does this project relate to wildlife and endangered species management?
The soils work is explicitly tied to understanding habitat impacts for the federally endangered Jemez Mountains Salamander, which is a terrestrial, soil-associated amphibian that depends on cool, moist, structurally intact forest floor and soil conditions.
How will the monitoring results be used by land managers?
By documenting how restoration actions affect soil properties and soil communities, the project can help managers anticipate where treatments might improve salamander habitat, where they could pose risks, and what mitigation measures or timing constraints could reduce negative impacts.
What makes the overall effort collaborative?
More than 30 local and regional partners are involved, including state and federal agencies and neighboring Native American tribes, who collaborate on planning and monitoring while contractors carry out tree removal.
Who conducts the tree removal and what happens to the removed material?
Contractors conduct the tree removal, and the resulting material is routed to a local timber mill.
Are there intended local economic benefits tied to the restoration work?
Yes. Routing removed material to a local timber mill is described as supporting forest products manufacturing and job creation, rather than treating thinning residues purely as waste.
What organization is identified as having a specific role within the partnership?
Northern Arizona University is identified as conducting targeted monitoring on how thinning operations and prescribed fire affect soils.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Why is eligibility limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education?
The limitation is described as reflecting the research and monitoring emphasis of the project.
What kinds of deliverables are implied by the opportunity description?
Deliverables implicitly include scientific monitoring results (on soils and soil biological communities) as well as active information sharing of findings with partner organizations and the general public.
How will the public learn about the findings?
Findings are intended to be communicated to the public through National Park Service interpretive programs.
Is the monitoring intended to track changes over time?
Yes. The monitoring is described as tracking changes attributable to thinning and fire over time.
What specific soil properties are called out as being affected by compaction?
The description specifically mentions reduced pore space and altered infiltration and water storage as concerns tied to compaction.
What broader ecological outcomes are connected to soil changes in this project?
The soil changes are linked to potential impacts on plant regeneration and nutrient cycling, and to habitat conditions for the Jemez Mountains Salamander.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Next opportunity: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Desert Southwest CESU
Previous opportunity: mproving visitor understanding of sand dunes at White Sands NM
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P18AS00277
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P18AS00277) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Tumacácori SCA Resources Intern Apply for NPSNOITUMA1800643 Funding Number: NPSNOITUMA1800643 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $37,118 |
| Repair, Restore, and Maintain Carlsbad Caverns National Park Trails Apply for NPSNOICAVE1800644 Funding Number: NPSNOICAVE1800644 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $117,589 |
| Great Lakes Barrier Assessment Apply for F18AS00164 Funding Number: F18AS00164 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Notice of Intent Apply for USGS 18 FA 0162 Funding Number: USGS 18 FA 0162 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award Noncompetitive Award Apply for USGS 18 FAC 0053 Funding Number: USGS 18 FAC 0053 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $71,766 |
| BLM-Alaska 2018 Youth Opportunities to Work on Conservation Projects on Alaska Public Lands Apply for L18AS00035 Funding Number: L18AS00035 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $98,000 |
| Conduct Fall Chinook Salmon Spawning Escapement Enumeration Projects Apply for F18AS00166 Funding Number: F18AS00166 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $39,978 |
| NOTICE OF INTENT: Rare Plant Inventories in Grazing Allotments in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah Apply for P18AS00290 Funding Number: P18AS00290 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $47,588 |
| Off Highway vehcile Restoration and Archeological Surveys for Joshua Tree NP Apply for P18AS00192 Funding Number: P18AS00192 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Reduce & Control Oleander Propulations at Grantham Camp Grounds in Death Valley NP Apply for P18AS00203 Funding Number: P18AS00203 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $90,000 |
| PULBIC OUTREACH INTERN FOR GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK Apply for P18AS00191 Funding Number: P18AS00191 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $123,647 |
| Invasive Species Apply for F18AS00167 Funding Number: F18AS00167 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $48,000 |
| Engage Native American Youth in Historic Prservation at Joshua Tree National Park Apply for P18AS00179 Funding Number: P18AS00179 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $81,950 |
| Partnership to Support Equestrian Operations and Stewardship at Rancho Corral de Tierra Apply for P18AS00288 Funding Number: P18AS00288 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| NOTICE OF INTENT: Resource Education Intern for Tonto National Monument Apply for P18AS00296 Funding Number: P18AS00296 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $46,524 |
| Improve and maintain Pierdas Marcadas Trail Apply for NPSNOIPETR1800660 Funding Number: NPSNOIPETR1800660 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Project Title Woody Plants on the Move Apply for P18AS00299 Funding Number: P18AS00299 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $169,413 |
| NOTICE OF INTENT: Rangeland Health Condition Assessments for Livestock Allotments at Dinosaur National Monument Apply for P18AS00301 Funding Number: P18AS00301 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $97,643 |
| Complete FLAG Integrated Pest Managment Plan Apply for P18AS00305 Funding Number: P18AS00305 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $58,000 |
| MAPR Cultural Landscapes Inventory for Tech Area 18 Apply for P18AS00307 Funding Number: P18AS00307 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $70,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P18AS00277", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.