Grants / Department of the Interior / Fish and Wildlife Service

F21AS00406: Seaplane Invasive Species Risk Analysis

Closed Closed June 4, 2021 Opportunity F21AS00406 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: F26AS00104 State ANS Management Plan 2026 (F26AS00104). Status: Closes December 16, 2026 (39 days left). It is in our archive of Fish and Wildlife Service notices from 2021.

• Award ceiling$140,000
• Award floor$100,000
• Total funding$140,000
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to any type of organization.

• Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"

They are no restriction on applicant.

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses, individuals.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species awards averaged $279,895; this notice allows up to $140,000 per award.
• Most of the program's money (51% over five years) went to state and local governments.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The ANS Task Force, within its Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 (Objective 2.2 and 2.3), identifies a need to evaluate and prioritize pathways, develop risk management strategies, and encourage implementation of non-regulatory and regulatory measures to prevent the establishment and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in waters of the United States. While evaluating pathways, the ANS Task Force determined that more information is needed to assess the risk of spreading AIS via the seaplane pathway and develop measures to mitigate this risk. This project will address these objectives. International air travel is a significant pathway for the introduction of nonnative pest species, based on data collected at U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection stations (McCullough, et al., 2006. Biol. Invas. 8: 611–630). However, there has been no conclusive data to quantify the risk of transport of AIS represented by seaplanes. Air travel has historically connected otherwise isolated areas, providing a means to transport species from one location to another. The risk of species movement associated with commercial airplanes and air cargo carriers has been previously evaluated; however, the ANS Task Force Prevention Subcommittee found that information on the potential risks associated with seaplanes is currently lacking. Seaplanes may be a more direct risk to aquatic habitats, as opposed to passenger or cargo aircraft. Preliminary studies of the seaplane transportation pathway in Alaska, have concluded that seaplanes have contributed to the spread of Elodea, an invasive aquatic plant within Alaska. The spread of Elodea could have significant economic impacts on fisheries, businesses, and recreation, if left unchecked. Currently, the significance of the seaplane pathway as a vector for high risk species, such as Dressinid mussels, within the contiguous United States, and between Alaska and the contiguous United States is poorly understood. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), co-chair of the ANS Task Force, requests proposals to build upon previous studies and evaluate the risk of the seaplane pathway as a vector for AIS. This risk analysis should include two components: a risk assessment and identification of risk management actions. The risk assessment is needed to identify and quantify the range of waterbodies that are utilized by seaplanes and what AIS may be transported through this pathway.

Category: Natural Resources.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, F26AS00104, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.