Opportunity Information: Apply for F20AS00078
The "Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States" grant opportunity is a discretionary funding program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to slow and prevent the spread of quagga and zebra mussels across western waters. These mussels are highly damaging aquatic invasive species that have been expanding quickly in the West, with heavily used recreational reservoirs in and connected to the lower Colorado River described as a major source area. The core problem the program targets is the easy movement of mussels to new, uninfested waters through trailered boats, which can carry mussels or larvae between lakes and reservoirs if boats are not properly cleaned, drained, and dried. The overall goal is to fund practical, on-the-ground efforts that contain existing infestations and protect uninfested waters, while improving coordination and readiness across jurisdictions.
Projects must align with the top priorities in the Quagga/Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters (QZAP) and are limited geographically to U.S. states that fall within the Western Regional Panel boundary (explicitly excluding Canada and Mexico). Within that region, the funding is aimed at a limited number of projects, with a strong emphasis on containment actions in already infested areas (such as the lower Colorado River system and connected waters) to reduce the chances that boats transport mussels to other states, tribes, or local jurisdictions that remain dreissenid-free.
The grant solicitation highlights several principal work areas that proposals are expected to address. A major category is containment through watercraft inspection and decontamination, especially for boats moving from invaded waters to places that are not yet infested, paired with improved coordination between states and other jurisdictions so inspection and decontamination practices are consistent and effective. Another category is prevention at high-risk control points by supporting or establishing programs where traffic patterns and risk are highest (for example, popular launch sites, choke points on travel routes, or key reservoirs). The opportunity also supports projects designed to increase compliance with federal, state, local, and tribal laws related to aquatic invasive species, recognizing that rules only work when boaters understand them and follow them. In addition, the program encourages stronger outreach and education to improve prevention behaviors, investments that build capacity to detect new infestations early and respond quickly, and research that directly supports these prevention and containment goals. The research focus is not limited to biology; it explicitly includes social science work to test whether prevention messaging actually changes behavior, as well as studies on potential non-target impacts of mussel control treatments so management actions do not create new ecological problems.
For fiscal year 2020, the Service indicated it planned to allocate about $1.83 million total under this QZAP grant program to projects that reduce or minimize the threat of quagga and zebra mussels in Western U.S. waters. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $600,000 per award, and it is framed as competitive funding for a limited set of strong proposals rather than broad distribution of small awards. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity area is natural resources (CFDA/Assistance Listing 15.608). Eligible applicants are described as unrestricted in the source information, which typically signals that a wide range of applicant types may apply, though applicants still need to fit the program rules and demonstrate capacity to carry out the work.
The notice also ties the program to several Department of the Interior financial assistance priorities, which gives a sense of how applicants should frame their proposals. Under Priority 1, the program emphasizes science-based best practices for managing land and water resources and adapting to changing conditions, while also supporting continued public access to waters by preventing infestations that could otherwise force closures or restrictions. Under Priority 4, it stresses that invasive mussels cross boundaries and that progress requires cooperation among states, tribes, and other partners, so proposals that strengthen cross-jurisdictional coordination and shared objectives fit well. Under Priority 7, the program argues that preventing invasive species can reduce the likelihood of future regulatory burdens, including those that might arise under the Endangered Species Act if invasive species contribute to native species declines. Under Priority 9, the program positions QZAP as part of a longer-term effort (supported since 2011) to build a more coordinated, mission-focused approach to aquatic invasive species prevention and control across the West.
Key administrative details in the source listing include the funding opportunity number F20AS00078, a creation date of August 13, 2020, and an original closing date of October 18, 2020. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as targeted support for prevention, containment, and coordinated response actions that keep quagga and zebra mussels from hitchhiking to new waters, while strengthening the Wests long-term capacity to detect, manage, and communicate about this ongoing invasive species threat.Apply for F20AS00078
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.608.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-08-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-18. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FAQs: Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States (F20AS00078)
What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
This discretionary grant program from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funds practical, on-the-ground work to slow and prevent the spread of quagga and zebra mussels (dreissenid mussels) across western waters. The focus is on preventing mussels from being transported from infested waters to uninfested waters, especially via trailered watercraft.
Which invasive species does the program target?
The opportunity specifically targets quagga mussels and zebra mussels, two highly damaging aquatic invasive species that are expanding in the western United States.
Why are quagga and zebra mussels a major concern in the West?
The notice describes rapid expansion in the West and highlights heavily used recreational reservoirs in and connected to the lower Colorado River as a major source area. The program is designed to reduce the chance that mussels spread from these and other infested waters to new, uninfested waters.
How do these mussels commonly spread to new waters?
The core problem identified in the solicitation is overland movement by trailered boats. Boats can carry attached mussels or microscopic larvae between lakes and reservoirs when watercraft are not properly cleaned, drained, and dried.
What is the overall goal of the QZAP grant program?
The overall goal is to fund effective, on-the-ground efforts that contain existing infestations and protect uninfested waters, while improving coordination and readiness across jurisdictions in the West.
Do proposed projects need to align with a specific plan?
Yes. Projects must align with the top priorities in the Quagga/Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters (QZAP).
Where is this funding available geographically?
Projects are limited to U.S. states that fall within the Western Regional Panel boundary. The solicitation explicitly excludes Canada and Mexico.
Is the program focused on any specific source areas or watersheds?
Yes. The notice emphasizes containment actions in already infested areas, including the lower Colorado River system and connected waters, to reduce the risk of boats transporting mussels into other jurisdictions that remain dreissenid-free.
Is this a broad program with many small awards, or a targeted program with fewer awards?
It is framed as competitive funding for a limited set of strong proposals, rather than broad distribution of many small awards.
What is the total amount of funding the Service planned to allocate for FY 2020?
For fiscal year 2020, the Service indicated it planned to allocate approximately $1.83 million in total under this QZAP grant program.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $600,000 per award.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number and activity area?
The activity area is natural resources, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing is 15.608.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are described as unrestricted in the source information. This typically signals that a wide range of applicant types may apply, as long as they meet program rules and can demonstrate capacity to carry out the proposed work.
What are the main categories of work the solicitation expects proposals to address?
The notice highlights several principal work areas: (1) containment through watercraft inspection and decontamination (especially for boats moving from invaded waters to uninfested waters) and improved cross-jurisdiction coordination; (2) prevention at high-risk control points where traffic patterns and risk are highest; (3) projects that increase compliance with aquatic invasive species laws; (4) outreach and education to improve prevention behaviors; (5) capacity-building to detect new infestations early and respond quickly; and (6) research that directly supports prevention and containment goals.
What does the grant mean by "containment" activities?
Containment is described primarily as actions that reduce the spread from already infested waters, with a major emphasis on watercraft inspection and decontamination so boats do not carry mussels or larvae to other, uninfested waters.
Are watercraft inspection and decontamination activities eligible and encouraged?
Yes. Watercraft inspection and decontamination are emphasized as a major category of supported work, particularly for boats leaving invaded waters and traveling to waters that are not yet infested.
Why does the solicitation stress coordination across states and other jurisdictions?
The notice states that invasive mussels cross boundaries and that effective prevention requires cooperation among states, tribes, and other partners. It also calls for consistent and effective inspection and decontamination practices across jurisdictions.
What are "high-risk control points" in this opportunity?
High-risk control points are locations where boating traffic patterns and risk are highest, such as popular launch sites, choke points on travel routes, or key reservoirs. The opportunity supports efforts to establish or strengthen prevention programs at these points.
Does the program support work to increase compliance with laws and rules?
Yes. The solicitation supports projects designed to increase compliance with federal, state, local, and tribal laws related to aquatic invasive species, recognizing that regulations are only effective when boaters understand them and follow them.
Are outreach and education activities supported?
Yes. The program encourages stronger outreach and education designed to improve prevention behaviors and reduce the likelihood of mussels being moved to new waters.
Does the program fund early detection and rapid response capacity?
Yes. The opportunity encourages investments that build capacity to detect new infestations early and respond quickly.
Is research eligible under this program?
Yes, as long as it directly supports prevention and containment goals. The solicitation notes that research is not limited to biology.
Does the solicitation explicitly include social science research?
Yes. It explicitly includes social science work, such as testing whether prevention messaging actually changes behavior.
Does the program consider potential non-target impacts of mussel control treatments?
Yes. The notice encourages studies on potential non-target impacts of mussel control treatments to help ensure management actions do not create new ecological problems.
How does the opportunity relate to Department of the Interior priorities?
The notice ties QZAP to several Department of the Interior financial assistance priorities: Priority 1 (science-based best practices for managing land and water resources and supporting continued public access by preventing infestations), Priority 4 (cross-boundary cooperation among states, tribes, and partners), Priority 7 (prevention can reduce the likelihood of future regulatory burdens, including potential Endangered Species Act-related burdens), and Priority 9 (a longer-term coordinated effort supported since 2011 to improve aquatic invasive species prevention and control across the West).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is F20AS00078.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close (originally)?
The source listing shows a creation date of August 13, 2020, and an original closing date of October 18, 2020.
What problem does the program most directly try to reduce?
The program most directly targets the risk of mussels hitchhiking to new waters through trailered watercraft movement, especially when boats are not cleaned, drained, and dried before traveling between water bodies.
What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to achieve across the West?
Based on the notice, the desired outcomes include better containment in infested areas, stronger prevention at high-risk locations, improved boater compliance with aquatic invasive species rules, more effective outreach that changes prevention behavior, improved early detection and rapid response readiness, and stronger coordination across jurisdictions.
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