Conduct Fall Chinook Salmon Spawning Escapement Enumeration Projects | F18AS00171

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity is titled "Conduct Fall Chinook Salmon Spawning Escapement Enumeration Projects" and the Funding Opportunity Number is F18AS00171.

Which federal agency is offering this grant?

This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) discretionary grant under the Department of the Interior.

What is the general focus area of the project?

The project focuses on natural resources monitoring in the Klamath River basin, specifically monitoring anadromous salmonid runs within the Blue Creek drainage in the lower Klamath sub-basin.

What is the core purpose of the grant-funded work?

The core purpose is to maintain consistent, comparable monitoring over time so resource managers can determine whether salmon populations are increasing, stable, or declining, and use that information to support better-informed conservation and management decisions.

What species are specifically mentioned in the opportunity description?

The notice specifically mentions Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and coho salmon (O. kisutch) as species supported by the Blue Creek drainage.

Why is Blue Creek important in this grant opportunity?

Blue Creek is described as the only remaining drainage in the lower Klamath sub-basin that still supports sizable runs of Chinook salmon and coho salmon, making it a critical tributary and a key refuge area for these fish.

What does "adult escapement" mean in the context of this project?

Adult escapement refers to estimates or counts of adult salmon that return from the ocean and escape harvest to reach spawning areas. The project collects adult escapement data to understand returns to spawning habitat within the Blue Creek basin.

What types of information does the project aim to collect besides escapement counts?

In addition to escapement numbers, the project aims to refine understanding of (1) fish distribution throughout the Blue Creek drainage, (2) immigration timing (when fish enter and move through the system), and (3) how fish use habitats across the watershed.

How long has this monitoring effort been in place?

The notice states the monitoring effort began in FY 1989 and this grant supports continuation of that long-running work.

Why does long-term, consistent monitoring matter for this project?

Because the effort has been running for decades, it creates a valuable time series that improves trend detection and makes year-to-year comparisons more meaningful. This is especially important in variable systems where flow conditions, ocean survival, and habitat changes can strongly influence adult returns.

How are the results intended to be used by resource managers?

The results are intended to help managers track long-term population trends, understand where and when fish use the watershed, and respond with improved conservation and management decisions based on consistent field monitoring.

What is the "Mega-Table" and how does this project relate to it?

The "Mega-Table" is referenced as a basinwide assessment framework used to compile and interpret wild salmonid population information across the Klamath Basin. Data from this project contribute reliable escapement and distribution information to improve basinwide estimates of wild salmonid numbers.

How can this monitoring data influence fisheries management?

The notice explains that better escapement and distribution data improve estimates of wild salmonid numbers, which support more accurate predictions of future Chinook run sizes and the setting of allowable harvest numbers. This links monitoring directly to fisheries management and allocation decisions.

Does the opportunity description connect monitoring to habitat or watershed restoration?

Yes. The information gathered is intended to inform land management and watershed restoration by helping evaluate how habitat conditions, sediment loads, riparian practices, and restoration actions affect fish use of the drainage and spawning success.

How can monitoring results support restoration decision-making?

The notice describes this type of project as a feedback loop for restoration and management. Consistent observations and escapement tracking can help identify priority reaches, detect shifts in spawning distribution, and provide evidence for whether restoration investments are producing measurable biological responses.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity falls under CFDA 15.608.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?

The notice lists federally recognized Native American tribal governments as eligible applicants.

Is this an open competitive funding opportunity?

No. The posting is explicitly described as a notice of intent rather than an open competition.

Has the grant already been awarded?

Yes. The notice states the opportunity has already been awarded to the Yurok Tribe.

How many awards are expected under this opportunity?

The expected number of awards is one.

What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed in the notice is $90,609.

When was this notice created?

The notice was created on June 25, 2018.

What type of partnership or project approach does the notice suggest?

The notice characterizes the opportunity as a targeted continuation of an established monitoring partnership rather than a broad solicitation for new applicants.

What geographic area does the project primarily cover?

The project is centered on Blue Creek in the lower Klamath sub-basin within the broader Klamath River basin.

What management questions can this project help answer over time?

Based on the notice, the project helps address questions such as whether Chinook and coho populations in Blue Creek are increasing, stable, or declining; how fish distribution changes across the drainage; and how timing of fish movement and habitat use vary from year to year.