Opportunity Information: Apply for P19AS00436
This grant opportunity, issued by the Department of the Interior through the National Park Service, focuses on improving native biodiversity in grasslands that have been heavily invaded by Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana). Because past attempts to eradicate this invasive grass have largely failed, the project is built around the idea that broader, more integrated restoration methods may work better than direct eradication alone. The central strategy being tested is a "fertile island" approach, which concentrates restoration efforts on smaller, high-potential patches within invaded grasslands rather than trying to treat large landscapes uniformly.
The work is set up as a controlled research study conducted at two National Park Service sites in southeastern Arizona: Coronado National Memorial (often abbreviated as CORO) and Chiricahua National Monument (CHIR). The project uses a nested, randomized, factorial experimental design, meaning multiple treatment types are combined in different ways across replicated plots so researchers can measure not only whether a single action helps, but also how actions interact with each other. In practical terms, this design allows the study to compare restoration techniques side by side under real field conditions and identify which combinations are most effective.
Three categories of treatments are tested within the plots. First, the Lehmann lovegrass control factor has two levels: hand pulling of Lehmann lovegrass versus no action. Second, the seeding factor has three levels: broadcast seeding, pelletized seed application, and no seeding. Third, the soil or surface amendment factor also has three levels: pine mulch, Lehmann thatch, and no amendment. By combining these treatments in a structured experiment, the study aims to see whether physically removing the invasive grass, adding native seed in different formats, and modifying ground cover or microhabitat conditions can increase native plant establishment and/or reduce lovegrass dominance within these fertile island patches.
Monitoring is a core component of the work. The plots will be tracked over two field seasons, with data collected on the establishment and performance of both native species and Lehmann lovegrass. The emphasis is on measurable outcomes such as increases in native plant presence, diversity, or cover, and decreases in Lehmann lovegrass abundance. The practical value of this monitoring is that it moves beyond anecdotal restoration claims and instead produces evidence on what actually works, where, and under what treatment combinations.
The stated objectives of the project are straightforward and research-driven. The first objective is to establish the fertile island research plots at both CORO and CHIR using a rigorous experimental framework. The second objective is to monitor those plots and build a dataset that captures treatment effects over two field seasons. The third objective is to publish the findings in the public domain, ensuring the results can inform future invasive grass management and restoration planning beyond these two park units.
Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary funding announcement with funding provided through a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement or collaboration with the National Park Service during project implementation. It falls under the Natural Resources activity category and lists CFDA number 15.945. The funding opportunity number is P19AS00436. The announcement was created on July 29, 2019, with an original closing date of August 8, 2019. The award ceiling is $39,815, and the National Park Service anticipated making one award. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the original eligibility text field.Apply for P19AS00436
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOTICE OF INTENT: Restoring Biotic Diversity in Lehmann Lovegrass Dominated Grasslands: Fertile Islands" 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 Jul 29, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 08, 2019. (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 $39,815.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this grant opportunity about?
This opportunity, issued by the Department of the Interior through the National Park Service (NPS), supports a controlled research study focused on improving native biodiversity in grasslands that have been heavily invaded by Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana). The project tests whether integrated restoration methods can outperform direct eradication efforts alone, since past attempts to eradicate this invasive grass have largely failed.
2) What problem is the project trying to solve?
The project addresses widespread invasion of Lehmann lovegrass in grasslands and the resulting challenges to native plant establishment and biodiversity. Rather than relying on eradication as the primary tool, the study investigates restoration approaches designed to increase native plant establishment and reduce lovegrass dominance within targeted patches.
3) What is the "fertile island" approach mentioned in the announcement?
The "fertile island" approach concentrates restoration efforts on smaller, high-potential patches within invaded grasslands instead of treating large areas uniformly. The idea is to focus resources where conditions and restoration actions may produce stronger, more measurable ecological gains, potentially creating patches of improved native vegetation within a broader invaded matrix.
4) Where will the work take place?
The study will be conducted at two National Park Service sites in southeastern Arizona: Coronado National Memorial (CORO) and Chiricahua National Monument (CHIR).
5) Is this a research study or a conventional restoration project?
Based on the description provided, it is a controlled research study implemented in real field conditions. It is structured to generate evidence about which restoration techniques (and combinations of techniques) are most effective, rather than implementing a single restoration prescription without experimental comparison.
6) What kind of experimental design is being used?
The project uses a nested, randomized, factorial experimental design with replicated plots. This design combines multiple treatment types in different combinations so researchers can evaluate not only whether each treatment works on its own, but also whether treatments interact (for example, whether seeding performs differently depending on whether lovegrass is removed or mulch is applied).
7) What treatment categories are being tested?
Three categories of treatments are tested in the study plots:
- Lehmann lovegrass control (2 levels): hand pulling vs. no action
- Seeding (3 levels): broadcast seeding vs. pelletized seed application vs. no seeding
- Soil/surface amendment (3 levels): pine mulch vs. Lehmann thatch vs. no amendment
8) What does "hand pulling" mean in this context?
Hand pulling refers to physically removing Lehmann lovegrass plants by hand in designated plots. The study compares this control method against plots where no lovegrass control action is taken.
9) What seeding methods are being compared?
The study compares two seeding application methods and a no-seeding control:
- Broadcast seeding (spreading seed across the plot surface)
- Pelletized seed application (applying seed in pellet form)
- No seeding (to measure background recruitment and isolate the effect of seeding)
10) What soil or surface amendments are included?
The amendment factor includes:
- Pine mulch
- Lehmann thatch
- No amendment
These treatments are used to test whether modifying surface cover or microhabitat conditions influences native plant establishment and/or Lehmann lovegrass dominance within the fertile island patches.
11) Why combine multiple treatments instead of testing only one method?
The factorial design is intended to identify both single-treatment effects and interaction effects. In other words, it can reveal whether combinations (for example, hand pulling plus a certain seeding method plus a particular amendment) perform better or worse than any single action alone.
12) What outcomes will the project monitor and measure?
Monitoring focuses on measurable outcomes over two field seasons, including establishment and performance of native species and Lehmann lovegrass. The description emphasizes outcomes such as increases in native plant presence, diversity, or cover, and decreases in Lehmann lovegrass abundance.
13) How long will monitoring last?
The plots will be monitored over two field seasons, with data collected during that period to capture treatment effects over time.
14) What are the official project objectives?
The stated objectives are:
- Establish fertile island research plots at CORO and CHIR using a rigorous experimental framework.
- Monitor the plots and build a dataset capturing treatment effects over two field seasons.
- Publish the findings in the public domain so results can inform future invasive grass management and restoration planning beyond these two park units.
15) Will the results be publicly available?
Yes. The announcement states an objective to publish findings in the public domain, specifically to ensure the results can inform management and restoration planning beyond the two study sites.
16) What type of funding mechanism is used?
The opportunity is funded through a cooperative agreement. This mechanism typically implies substantial involvement or collaboration with the National Park Service during project implementation.
17) Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The announcement describes it as a discretionary funding announcement.
18) What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under the Natural Resources activity category.
19) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.945.
20) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is P19AS00436.
21) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $39,815.
22) How many awards did the National Park Service anticipate making?
The National Park Service anticipated making one award.
23) When was the announcement created, and what was the original closing date?
The announcement was created on July 29, 2019, with an original closing date of August 8, 2019.
24) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others", with additional clarification referenced in the original eligibility text field. No further eligibility details are provided in the summary information given here.
25) What makes this project different from past eradication attempts?
The project is explicitly designed around the premise that direct eradication of Lehmann lovegrass has largely failed in the past. Instead of focusing only on eradication, it tests broader, integrated restoration methods and evaluates them through a controlled, replicated experimental framework.
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