SAV Restoration in Anacostia / Potomac River | W81EW1 20 SOI 0019

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EW1 20 SOI 0019

The "SAV Restoration in Anacostia / Potomac River" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W81EW1 20 SOI 0019) is a Department of Defense program administered through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It was posted on May 8, 2020 and originally closed on June 29, 2020. The agency planned to make one award under a cooperative agreement, with an anticipated funding cap (award ceiling) of $165,000. The work falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 12.630) and is listed as a discretionary funding opportunity. Eligibility is broadly described as "Others," with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility text of the announcement.

The core purpose of the project is to restore submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Anacostia and/or Potomac River system by establishing healthy SAV beds that can expand beyond the initial restoration plots over time. The intent is not just to plant aquatic vegetation, but to create conditions where the planted areas serve as seed and propagule sources that help SAV naturally disperse into nearby habitat. This reflects a restoration strategy focused on building self-sustaining patches that can spread and persist, rather than isolated plantings that require continual rework.

The prospective partner is expected to take the lead on practical implementation. That includes selecting one or more suitable restoration sites, installing SAV plants, and installing protective exclosures. Exclosures are generally used in aquatic plant restoration to reduce grazing or physical disturbance (for example, from herbivorous wildlife or other impacts) so that young plants have a better chance of establishing. After installation, the partner must conduct monitoring during the peak of the growing season and measure SAV cover density to evaluate how well the planting approach worked. This monitoring is intended to directly test the efficacy of the chosen planting methodology, producing evidence on what techniques are most successful under local river conditions.

A key element of the project is adaptive learning: the partner is expected to monitor both adult plant performance and seeding success. Looking at adult plant survival and expansion helps determine whether the planted SAV is establishing stable beds, while tracking seeding success helps assess whether reproduction and recruitment are occurring, which is essential for long-term persistence and spread. By collecting both types of data, the partner can identify best practices and adjust methods if results suggest that certain installation techniques, protection strategies, or site conditions are limiting success.

In addition to vegetation monitoring, the project includes an ecological response component focused on fish communities. Contractor biologists will monitor fish species diversity to evaluate whether there are detectable community changes associated with the presence or absence of SAV. This matters because SAV beds often function as important habitat, offering shelter and foraging opportunities that can influence fish abundance, species composition, and overall diversity. The fish monitoring component is therefore designed to connect habitat restoration outcomes to broader biological indicators, helping determine whether SAV establishment is producing measurable benefits beyond plant coverage alone.

The opportunity emphasizes producing usable knowledge, not just completing field work. The findings are expected to be documented in a form suitable for publication and for practical use by others, suggesting that the final outputs should include clear methods, monitoring results, and lessons learned that can inform future SAV restoration projects in the region or in similar freshwater and tidal systems.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- Corps of Engineers in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SAV Restoration in Anacostia / Potomac River" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 08, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 29, 2020. (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 $165,000.00 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).

Apply for W81EW1 20 SOI 0019

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