Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner to support research and technology development that advances automated fish detection, enumeration, and risk assessment at Brandon Road Lock and Dam through the use of the Live Imaging Sonar Surveillance Array (LISSA). This work directly contributes to federal efforts to prevent the upstream movement of invasive carp toward the Great Lakes. Continuous sonar surveillance at Brandon Road is vital for evaluating deterrent system performance, identifying high-risk events, and informing real-time operational decision-making. Previous collaborative efforts between the USGS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have demonstrated LISSA's value as a low-cost, continuously operating sonar monitoring tool; however, a significant need remains to automate interpretation of the substantial data streams the LISSA generates.

This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program. CESUs are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.