Deployment of an Acoustic Deterrent System for Bigheaded Carp on the Wabash River | USGS 19 FA 0238

Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 19 FA 0238

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior, offered a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Deployment of an Acoustic Deterrent System for Bigheaded Carp on the Wabash River" (Funding Opportunity Number: USGS 19 FA 0238). The award was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the work would be carried out with substantial involvement from USGS rather than as a hands-off grant. The program area falls under natural resources (CFDA 15.808). Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting the research-heavy nature of the project and the expectation that an academic partner would have the technical capacity to run field monitoring and analysis.

The purpose of the opportunity was to support applied research tied to invasive species management, specifically focusing on bigheaded carp (often discussed under the broader "Asian carp" label). The central management tool under evaluation was an underwater Acoustic Deterrent System (ADS), intended to influence fish movement by using sound to discourage carp from entering or occupying certain areas. The work was planned for the Wabash River, with a particular emphasis on monitoring fish movement in a barrow pit area connected to the river. In practice, this kind of setting can act as a holding or staging habitat for fish and can be important for understanding how deterrents affect local movement pathways.

The project objectives were organized around three related research tasks. First, the selected recipient would deploy and operate a telemetry network to monitor fish movements before and during the ADS deployment. Telemetry in this context generally refers to tracking tagged fish with a network of acoustic receivers or similar detection equipment, allowing researchers to quantify where and when fish move, how long they remain in certain zones, and whether movement behavior shifts when deterrent signals are active. Importantly, the monitoring was not limited to carp alone; it was intended to track "fishes (including Asian carp)," which signals a need to understand non-target effects and broader ecological responses, not just the response of the invasive species.

Second, the opportunity called for evaluating historical movement patterns of Asian carp in the Wabash River to inform how the ADS should be operated. This objective highlights that deterrent systems are often most effective when tuned to real-world behavior such as seasonal migrations, diel (day-night) movement cycles, flow-related movements, and habitat use patterns. By analyzing existing telemetry records or other historical data, the project would help determine when the ADS should run, under what conditions it might be most effective, and what baseline movement rates look like in the absence of deterrence.

Third, the project required a direct comparison between historical movement patterns and movement patterns observed after the ADS was installed. This is essentially a before-and-after evaluation framework. The idea is to determine whether the deterrent measurably changes carp behavior relative to established baselines, and to document any changes in movement for other fish species as well. Results from this comparison would be used to assess the performance of the ADS and to guide decisions about operational strategies, potential adjustments, and the overall value of deploying similar deterrent systems elsewhere.

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity was relatively small and targeted, with an award ceiling of $21,366 and an expectation of a single award. The timeline was short: it was posted on June 13, 2019, with an original closing date of June 26, 2019. That quick turnaround suggests the work may have been aligned with a narrow field season window or a planned deployment schedule for the deterrent system, where telemetry equipment and analysis needed to be in place quickly to capture relevant conditions.

Overall, this opportunity was designed to generate practical, field-based evidence about whether and how an acoustic deterrent can alter the movements of bigheaded carp in a specific Wabash River setting, while also documenting broader fish movement responses. The combination of telemetry deployment, historical data analysis, and post-installation comparison points to a management-oriented research effort aimed at improving operational decisions and strengthening the evidence base for acoustic deterrence as an invasive carp control tool.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Deployment of an Acoustic Deterrent System for Bigheaded Carp on the Wabash River" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 13, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 26, 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 $21,366.00 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.

Apply for USGS 19 FA 0238

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