Enforcement Mussel Detection Dog | BOR PN 18 N0019

Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR PN 18 N0019

The Enforcement Mussel Detection Dog grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BOR PN 18 N0019) is a discretionary grant from the Bureau of Reclamation focused on preventing the introduction and spread of invasive quagga mussels in Washington State and the broader Pacific Northwest. The project sits within the natural resources funding category (CFDA 15.517) and is aimed specifically at strengthening early detection and enforcement capacity by using a trained mussel detection canine. The core idea is straightforward: finding contaminated boats or equipment before they reach vulnerable waters is far cheaper and more effective than trying to control mussels after they establish themselves.

The opportunity is grounded in long-standing state and regional concern about quagga mussels. Since 2002, the Washington State Legislature and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have treated invasive mussels as a serious ecological and economic threat. Washington lawmakers directed WDFW to develop and participate in comprehensive regional planning to protect aquatic resources across Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The rationale for urgency is tied to the Columbia River Basin. If quagga mussels become established there, they could spread quickly downstream and potentially infest the entire Columbia River system. The funding notice highlights the scale of potential impacts by citing an estimated 500 million dollars per year in projected control costs if mussels reach that point, reinforcing why prevention and early interception are prioritized.

The project concept emphasized in the description is the use of a detection dog as a practical enforcement tool. Mussel detection canines are typically trained to identify the scent of invasive mussels or related biological material on boats, trailers, gear, or other pathways that commonly move between water bodies. In an enforcement and inspection setting, a canine team can increase inspection efficiency, improve the odds of detecting contamination that might be missed by visual checks alone, and act as a strong deterrent by signaling that inspections are serious and effective. In this announcement, the canine approach is presented as a highly effective prevention measure because it targets the problem at the point of entry, before mussels can gain a foothold.

Eligibility is limited to state governments, which aligns with the program’s enforcement and statewide aquatic invasive species prevention orientation. The grant is structured as a single award with an award ceiling of $61,512. The original application closing date was June 28, 2018, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of June 14, 2018. While the posting does not detail allowable cost categories in the excerpt provided, the nature of the project implies funds would support implementing or maintaining a canine detection capability tied to aquatic invasive species inspection and prevention work.

Finally, the opportunity explicitly supports broader federal priorities. It is positioned as contributing to efforts to protect aquatic environments from aquatic invasive species and is linked to the Department of the Interior’s mandated initiative, "Safeguarding the West from Invasive Species - Invasive Mussels." In practical terms, the grant is meant to help Washington strengthen front-line prevention so the region avoids the much larger ecological damage and recurring financial burden that would follow an established quagga mussel invasion in the Columbia River system.

• The Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enforcement Mussel Detection Dog" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.517.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-06-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-06-28. (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 $61,512.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for BOR PN 18 N0019

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