I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) research funds are provided to support management-related research projects that will enhance scientific understanding of the reserve ecosystem, provide information needed by reserve management and coastal management decision-makers, and improve public awareness and understanding of estuarine ecosystems and estuarine management issues (15 CFR 921.50).

The reserve system's Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) Program offers qualified master's and doctoral students the opportunity to address scientific questions of local, regional, and national significance. The result is high-quality research focused on improving coastal management issues.

All GRF projects must be conducted in a National Estuarine Research Reserve and enhance the scientific understanding of the reserve's ecosystem. While graduate research fellows receive hands-on experience, reserve managers and coastal decision-makers receive vital ecological data.

B. Program Priorities

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is focusing on the following areas of research. Proposed research projects submitted in response to this announcement should address one of the following estuarine ecosystem topics:

• eutrophication, effects of non-point source pollution and/or nutrient dynamics;
• habitat conservation and/or restoration;
• biodiversity and/or the effects of invasive species;
• mechanisms for sustaining resources within estuarine ecosystems; or
• economic, sociological, and/or anthropological research applicable to estuarine ecosystem management

Proposals must:

• address through master's or doctoral research programs, coastal management issues identified as having local, regional, and/or national significance within the "Research Focus Areas" identified above, and;
• be conducted within one or more of the designated reserve(s).  A map with the designated National Estuarine Research Reserves can be found at www.nerrs.noaa.gov.  Proposals must clearly specify which focus area is being addressed and how it relates to research needs and priorities of the reserve or reserve system.

Note: Although the areas of coastal and estuarine research interest identified above may be considered national in scope, they relate to and encompass regional and local issues unique to the environments of the individual reserves. It is strongly suggested that applicants contact the intended host reserve(s) (see Appendix I) for specific information about the reserve(s) and their accompanying research needs and priorities as they relate to this announcement. Applicants should determine whether their proposed projects are relevant to the reserve's(s') site specific research needs.  

C. Program Authority

Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended CZMA, 16 U.S.C. 1461, establishes the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). 16 U.S.C. 1461 (e)(1)(B) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to any coastal state or public or private person for purposes of supporting research and monitoring within a National Estuarine Research Reserve that are consistent with the research guidelines developed under subsection (c).

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For more information contact Alison Krepp.