Opportunity Information: Apply for P19AS00055
Assessing Vulnerability to Climate Change: Modeling Thermal and Moisture Regimes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Funding Opportunity Number P19AS00055) is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) discretionary grant opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement under the natural resources funding activity category (CFDA 15.945). The project focuses on building or applying models that describe thermal and moisture conditions across Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with the broader goal of assessing how sensitive park ecosystems and resources are to climate change. By mapping and understanding temperature and moisture regimes in a complex mountain landscape, the work is intended to give managers a clearer picture of where future conditions may remain suitable for key habitats and where conditions may shift in ways that increase ecological stress or management risk.
A central management outcome of the study is improved protection planning for the park's spruce-fir ecosystem, a high-elevation community that is often considered especially vulnerable because it occupies a relatively narrow climate niche. The modeling is meant to help identify areas that are likely to remain more sustainable under changing climate conditions, allowing the park to prioritize conservation actions and focus limited resources where they are most likely to have lasting benefit. In practical terms, that could mean highlighting potential climate refugia, clarifying elevation and aspect effects, and improving understanding of how microclimates and moisture availability shape habitat resilience.
The opportunity also emphasizes strengthening the interpretation and usefulness of ongoing monitoring programs. The park collects air-quality, water-quality, and broader ecosystem monitoring data, but those datasets can be difficult to interpret without a strong environmental context. By providing modeled thermal and moisture layers, the project is expected to help explain patterns seen in monitoring records, support trend detection, and distinguish climate-driven changes from other stressors. This can lead to better-informed decisions and clearer communication about what monitoring results mean for ecological condition and resource management.
Another stated benefit is improved planning and decision-making around fire. The park needs to plan prescribed burns and respond to wildland fires, both of which depend heavily on fuel moisture, local weather patterns, and the way terrain influences fire behavior. Modeling moisture regimes and temperature conditions can support more strategic timing and placement of prescribed fire, better anticipation of fire risk under varying conditions, and improved situational awareness during wildfire response.
The project is also designed to help target efforts against invasive species. Invasive plants, insects, and pathogens often expand or shift their ranges as climate conditions change, and their success can be closely tied to moisture and temperature patterns. Better spatial information on where suitable conditions exist now and may exist in the future can help managers prioritize surveillance, prevention, and control actions, potentially reducing ecological and operational costs.
Finally, the opportunity ties climate modeling directly to hazard preparedness, specifically flood and landslide events and their impacts on park infrastructure and resources. Moisture regime modeling can inform understanding of where saturation, intense precipitation effects, and runoff dynamics are most likely to create problems, which is relevant for protecting roads, trails, bridges, visitor facilities, and sensitive natural and cultural resources. The intent is to help the park anticipate and prepare for extreme events, rather than reacting after damage has occurred.
Eligibility is open to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, with additional eligible applicants possible as indicated by the "Others" category (with clarification referenced in the full eligibility text in the original notice). The award ceiling listed is $295,000. The opportunity was created March 13, 2019, with an original closing date of March 26, 2019. The listing shows expected awards as 0, which in many grant postings can reflect administrative listing details rather than a definitive statement about whether funding will ultimately be made, and would typically be clarified in the full announcement materials.Apply for P19AS00055
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assessing Vulnerability to Climate Change: Modeling Thermal and Moisture Regimes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park" 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 Mar 13, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 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 $295,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Assessing Vulnerability to Climate Change: Modeling Thermal and Moisture Regimes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P19AS00055.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement.
What type of funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.945.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project focuses on building or applying models that describe thermal (temperature) and moisture conditions across Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with the broader goal of assessing how sensitive park ecosystems and resources are to climate change.
What does "modeling thermal and moisture regimes" mean in this context?
In this context, it refers to creating spatially explicit descriptions (model outputs or map layers) of how temperature and moisture vary across the park's complex mountain landscape, including how terrain-related factors can shape local conditions.
Why is Great Smoky Mountains National Park a focus for this modeling work?
The park has a complex mountain landscape where elevation, aspect, and microclimates can strongly influence temperature and moisture patterns. Mapping these conditions is intended to help managers understand where conditions may remain suitable for key habitats and where conditions may shift in ways that increase ecological stress or management risk.
What management outcomes is the project intended to support?
Based on the description provided, intended outcomes include: improved protection planning for vulnerable ecosystems (especially spruce-fir), improved interpretation of existing monitoring programs, better planning and decision-making related to fire (prescribed and wildland), more targeted invasive species efforts, and stronger hazard preparedness related to floods and landslides.
Which ecosystem is specifically highlighted as a central management focus?
The park's spruce-fir ecosystem is highlighted as a central focus, particularly because it is a high-elevation community often considered especially vulnerable due to its relatively narrow climate niche.
How could the modeling help protect the spruce-fir ecosystem?
The modeling is meant to help identify areas likely to remain more sustainable under changing climate conditions, allowing the park to prioritize conservation actions and focus limited resources where they are most likely to have lasting benefit.
Does the opportunity mention climate refugia?
Yes. The description notes that, in practical terms, the work could include highlighting potential climate refugia and clarifying how elevation and aspect influence conditions.
How does this project relate to existing monitoring in the park?
The park collects air-quality, water-quality, and broader ecosystem monitoring data. The opportunity states that modeled thermal and moisture layers can provide environmental context that helps interpret monitoring patterns, support trend detection, and distinguish climate-driven changes from other stressors.
What types of monitoring datasets are mentioned?
Air-quality monitoring, water-quality monitoring, and broader ecosystem monitoring data are mentioned.
How could these models improve trend detection in monitoring programs?
By adding modeled temperature and moisture context, the project is expected to help explain patterns seen in monitoring records, making it easier to identify trends and to separate climate-related signals from other influences.
How does the opportunity connect modeling to fire planning and response?
The opportunity notes that prescribed burns and wildfire response depend on fuel moisture, local weather patterns, and terrain influences on fire behavior. Modeling moisture regimes and temperature conditions can support more strategic timing and placement of prescribed fire, better anticipation of fire risk, and improved situational awareness during wildfire response.
How does the project support invasive species management?
The opportunity states that invasive plants, insects, and pathogens often expand or shift ranges as climate conditions change, and that their success can be closely tied to moisture and temperature patterns. Improved spatial information on suitable conditions now and in the future can help prioritize surveillance, prevention, and control actions.
What hazards are specifically mentioned in the opportunity?
Flood and landslide events are specifically mentioned.
How is hazard preparedness linked to moisture regime modeling?
The opportunity states that moisture regime modeling can inform understanding of where saturation, intense precipitation effects, and runoff dynamics are most likely to create problems, supporting efforts to anticipate and prepare for extreme events.
What types of park assets could benefit from improved flood and landslide preparedness?
The opportunity mentions protecting roads, trails, bridges, visitor facilities, and sensitive natural and cultural resources.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is open to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The notice also indicates that additional eligible applicants may be possible under an "Others" category, with clarification referenced in the full eligibility text in the original notice.
Does the opportunity allow applicants beyond higher education institutions?
The listing indicates an "Others" eligibility category in addition to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, but the specific details are referenced as being in the full eligibility text of the original notice.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed is $295,000.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 13, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was March 26, 2019.
The listing shows "expected awards: 0." What does that mean?
The listing shows expected awards as 0, which can reflect administrative listing details rather than a definitive statement about whether funding will ultimately be made. The description indicates this would typically be clarified in the full announcement materials.
What kinds of outputs are implied by the project description?
Based on the information provided, the project implies the development or application of models and the production of modeled thermal and moisture layers (spatial map layers) that can be used for interpretation of monitoring, ecosystem vulnerability assessment, fire planning, invasive species targeting, and hazard preparedness.
Is the project focused only on current conditions or also on future conditions?
The description emphasizes understanding where future conditions may remain suitable for key habitats and where conditions may shift, suggesting an intent to support assessment under changing climate conditions (including forward-looking suitability considerations).
How does terrain factor into the project?
The opportunity highlights the importance of a complex mountain landscape and notes potential benefits such as clarifying elevation and aspect effects and improving understanding of microclimates and moisture availability.
What is the broader climate-related goal described?
The broader goal is assessing how sensitive park ecosystems and resources are to climate change by mapping and understanding temperature and moisture regimes across the park.
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