Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative Fiscal Year 2013 - Research Funding Opportunity: Playas

The Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GPLCC) is an applied conservation science partnership; see http://www.greatplainslcc.org/about/ for a map of the GPLCC geographic area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is soliciting Letters of Intent (LOI) on behalf of the GPLCC for applied scientific work to inform resource management decisions that address landscape-scale stressors to fish, wildlife, and plants of the Great Plains. A total estimated amount of up to $1,000,000 may be awarded to projects that address priorities of the Great Plains LCC. All awards are subject to the availability of funds. Three specific science needs related to playas have been identified as priorities for the GPLCC for Fiscal Year 2013 funding. LOIs and final research proposals must address at least one of the following specific science needs to be considered for funding: i. An analysis of the socioeconomic impediments to playa conservation. ii. Grass plantings and buffers ¿ Which are most effective in relation to: a) native grasses being effectively established in the semi-arid Great Plains, b) facilitating natural inundation of playas, c) preventing sedimentation of playas, and, d) how current buffers can be altered or managed to function optimally. iii. Number and distribution ¿ What number of playas, and in what spatial arrangement is necessary to support migrating and wintering wetland birds and/or other playa-dependent species?