Opportunity Information: Apply for P19AS00195
This National Park Service funding opportunity (P19AS00195) focuses on assessing the health and future outlook of curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) within Bighorn Canyon and understanding how changes in Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) cover may be affecting habitat quality for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). The need for this work was highlighted in Bighorn Canyon's Natural Resource Condition Assessment (Komp et al. 2012), which pointed to gaps in knowledge about the condition of mountain mahogany stands and the extent to which juniper may be expanding into areas where mahogany is established. Because curl-leaf mountain mahogany is a key year-round forage source for bighorn sheep, the park is concerned that deterioration of this plant community could eventually translate into negative impacts on sheep nutrition, habitat suitability, and long-term population stability.
The project is motivated by documented vegetation changes within the park. Curl-leaf mountain mahogany is widespread, occurring across roughly 40 percent of Bighorn Canyon, yet in 2011 the park observed substantial areas of mahogany experiencing die-off from causes that were not clearly understood at the time. At the same time, Utah juniper has been noted as encroaching into mahogany-dominated areas, which can alter plant community structure and potentially reduce the availability of preferred browse. Although the bighorn sheep population in the park had remained relatively steady, the opportunity narrative emphasizes that bighorn sheep across the West often persist in small and fragmented groups and can be vulnerable to pressure from multiple directions, including disease, woody plant encroachment, and loss of primary forage species. In that context, continued decline of mountain mahogany, whether driven by long-term drought stress, increased insect or pest activity (such as tent caterpillars), or competition and shading from juniper expansion, is framed as a plausible pathway to future habitat degradation and eventual population decline.
The intended outcome of the funded work is a targeted condition assessment that gives park managers a clearer, evidence-based picture of what is happening to curl-leaf mountain mahogany and how vegetation dynamics are shifting in areas important to bighorn sheep. By pinpointing the extent of mahogany decline, identifying likely drivers, and clarifying the role of juniper encroachment, the assessment is meant to support practical management decisions and allow the park to design and implement a restoration strategy. The emphasis is on ensuring that mountain mahogany, as a critical forage plant, remains present and functional in the ecosystem over the long term, thereby helping maintain high-quality bighorn sheep habitat into the future.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. The activity category is Natural Resources and the CFDA number listed is 15.945. Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating the park sought to partner with an academic entity capable of conducting field assessment and analysis. The opportunity was created on May 23, 2019, with an original closing date of June 1, 2019. The expected number of awards was one, with an award ceiling of $30,903, suggesting a single, focused project designed to fill a specific management-relevant information gap rather than support a broad multi-year research program.Apply for P19AS00195
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding the state of curl-leaf mountain mahogany" 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 May 23, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 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 $30,903.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the focus of National Park Service funding opportunity P19AS00195?
This opportunity focuses on assessing the health and future outlook of curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) within Bighorn Canyon and understanding how changes in Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) cover may be affecting habitat quality for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis).
Why is curl-leaf mountain mahogany important in Bighorn Canyon?
Curl-leaf mountain mahogany is described as a key year-round forage source for bighorn sheep. Because of its role as primary browse, deterioration of this plant community could translate into negative impacts on sheep nutrition, habitat suitability, and long-term population stability.
What problem or management concern led to this funding opportunity?
The park observed substantial areas of curl-leaf mountain mahogany experiencing die-off in 2011, with causes not clearly understood at the time. In addition, Utah juniper has been noted as encroaching into mahogany-dominated areas, potentially altering plant community structure and reducing availability of preferred browse for bighorn sheep.
How widespread is curl-leaf mountain mahogany in Bighorn Canyon?
The opportunity narrative states that curl-leaf mountain mahogany is widespread, occurring across roughly 40 percent of Bighorn Canyon.
What role does Utah juniper play in the issue being studied?
Utah juniper is noted as potentially expanding into areas where mountain mahogany is established. This encroachment may increase competition and shading, alter the plant community, and potentially reduce forage availability and habitat quality for bighorn sheep.
What are the possible drivers of mountain mahogany decline mentioned in the opportunity?
The opportunity describes several plausible drivers, including long-term drought stress, increased insect or pest activity (such as tent caterpillars), and competition and shading associated with juniper expansion.
How does this relate to the bighorn sheep population in the park?
While the park's bighorn sheep population had remained relatively steady, the narrative emphasizes that bighorn sheep across the West often occur in small, fragmented groups and can be vulnerable to multiple pressures, including disease, woody plant encroachment, and loss of primary forage species. Continued decline of mountain mahogany is framed as a plausible pathway to future habitat degradation and eventual population decline.
What is the intended outcome of the funded work?
The intended outcome is a targeted condition assessment that provides an evidence-based understanding of what is happening to curl-leaf mountain mahogany and how vegetation dynamics are shifting in areas important to bighorn sheep. The work is intended to help managers pinpoint the extent of decline, identify likely drivers, and clarify the role of juniper encroachment.
How will the results be used by the park?
The assessment is meant to support practical management decisions and allow the park to design and implement a restoration strategy. The emphasis is on maintaining mountain mahogany as a functional, long-term component of the ecosystem to help sustain high-quality bighorn sheep habitat.
What document highlighted the need for this work?
The need was highlighted in Bighorn Canyon's Natural Resource Condition Assessment (Komp et al. 2012), which identified gaps in knowledge about the condition of mountain mahogany stands and the extent to which juniper may be expanding into established mahogany areas.
What federal agency and department offered this funding opportunity?
This was a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument specified for this opportunity was a cooperative agreement.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category listed is Natural Resources.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 15.945.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating the park intended to partner with an academic entity capable of conducting field assessment and analysis.
How many awards were expected?
The expected number of awards was one.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was $30,903.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on May 23, 2019, and the original closing date was June 1, 2019.
Is this opportunity described as a broad research program?
No. The narrative describes a single, focused project intended to fill a specific, management-relevant information gap rather than support a broad multi-year research program.
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