Northwestern Pond Turtle Study, Willamette Valley, Oregon | W81EWF 20 SOI 0035

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Northwestern Pond Turtle Study, Willamette Valley, Oregon" grant opportunity?

It is a Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) cooperative agreement opportunity focused on compiling and synthesizing many years of existing scientific information on the Northwestern pond turtle (NWPT) in the Willamette Valley, Oregon.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The main purpose is to compile, digitize, standardize, analyze, and summarize decades of NWPT data so it can directly support an upcoming federal listing decision anticipated in 2023, and to produce clear findings useful for management and recovery.

Is this project primarily new field research?

No. The emphasis is on pulling together and making sense of existing, scattered historical datasets and records. The work is intended to turn fragmented information into an organized, usable evidence base that supports management-relevant conclusions.

What types of activities are expected under this award?

Expected activities include compiling NWPT datasets, digitizing paper and legacy digital materials, standardizing data formats, analyzing and summarizing results, and developing a multi-year research study design to guide future work in the Willamette Valley Project (WVP) area.

Why is the work tied to a federal listing decision?

The solicitation states that the compiled and synthesized analyses are meant to directly support an upcoming federal listing decision anticipated in 2023 by translating decades of scattered information into clear findings.

What deliverables are expected for data compilation and organization?

The project emphasizes building an organized data foundation by compiling, digitizing, and standardizing NWPT information, and converting paper files and legacy digital materials into a coherent digital archive in coordination with USACE.

What tools are mentioned for data entry and management?

The investigator is expected to enter and manage data in appropriate tools such as Excel, Access, and/or ArcGIS to support analysis and future monitoring.

What are the expectations for file organization and naming conventions?

The opportunity highlights creating a streamlined folder structure and applying consistent file naming conventions based on best practices, including file names that include the creation date and a brief descriptor.

Does the project require documentation of the data organization process?

Yes. The investigator must document the organization and naming protocol and explain any issues encountered during conversion and organization, creating a record that helps future users understand dataset history and limitations.

How will the results be shared?

Results are intended to be shared publicly through peer-reviewed publications and professional presentations.

What management framework or strategy is referenced in the solicitation?

The study is framed around recovery needs identified in the 2019 draft Western Pond Turtle Range-wide Management Strategy.

What kinds of scientific questions is the synthesis meant to support?

The compiled analyses are intended to support actions such as synthesizing distribution and abundance information from known, historical, and potential habitats, and using demographic information from targeted areas to evaluate long-term trends.

Is the work expected to address threats and recovery actions?

Yes. Beyond status and trends, the project is intended to improve understanding of threats and inform practical recovery measures, especially in priority conservation areas, with conclusions that point toward concrete actions to reduce threats and improve habitat conditions.

What is the multi-year research study design deliverable?

A key deliverable is a multi-year research study design that describes how future NWPT work should be prioritized across and within watersheds in the Willamette Valley Project area, focusing on filling important data gaps while supporting long-term WVP operations.

Will the future research plan be fully defined at the start?

Not necessarily. The solicitation notes that the exact emphasis of the future research plan may not be fully defined until existing data are reviewed.

What kinds of future research topics does the solicitation give as examples?

Examples include evaluating how reservoir water level management for flood risk reduction, dam maintenance, or compliance with fisheries flow targets affects NWPT reproduction, life history, dispersal, habitat use, and population viability; evaluating whether turtles can move through dams, spillways, and other water control structures; developing a genetic sample collection strategy; evaluating turtle responses to vegetation management; and clarifying impacts of non-native species and responses to invasive species removal.

How is reservoir water level management connected to NWPT research needs?

The opportunity highlights evaluating how reservoir water level management (for flood risk reduction, dam maintenance, or fisheries flow targets) may affect NWPT reproduction, life history, dispersal, habitat use, and overall population viability.

Does the solicitation mention fisheries-related requirements?

Yes. It references compliance with fisheries flow targets and cites the 2008 fisheries Biological Opinion in connection with reservoir operations.

Why does the solicitation discuss dams and water control structures?

It raises the question of whether turtles can successfully move through dams, spillways, and other water control structures and what that implies for population connectivity upstream and downstream of dams.

Is genetics included in the scope?

The solicitation includes developing a strategy for genetic sample collection so future analyses can better assess population genetic structure and connectivity.

How do vegetation management actions relate to the project?

One of the example research directions is understanding how NWPT respond to vegetation management actions intended to improve aquatic or terrestrial habitat.

Which non-native species are specifically mentioned?

Non-native species mentioned include red-eared sliders, bullfrogs, and largemouth bass.

Is invasive species removal considered in the research directions?

Yes. The solicitation notes measuring turtle responses to invasive species removal efforts as part of clarifying impacts from non-native species.

What type of funding instrument is being used?

The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement instrument.

Is the funding opportunity discretionary?

Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.

What is the activity category and CFDA number?

The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number is 12.630.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is W81EWF 20 SOI 0035.

When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

It was created on June 22, 2020, and the original closing date was August 14, 2020.

How many awards were anticipated?

The solicitation anticipated a single award.

What was the award ceiling?

The award ceiling was $60,000.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional details referenced in the opportunity's eligibility section.

What is the overall expected outcome of the funded work?

The overall outcome is an organized, accessible NWPT evidence base (including a coherent digital archive and documented data practices), management-relevant analyses that support a federal listing decision and recovery planning, and a practical roadmap for prioritizing future research and management in the Willamette Valley.