Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program: Zooplankton, Mysis, and Benthic Invertebrate Components
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
Multi-million dollar EPA contract for established aquatic biology labs to drive Great Lakes ecosystem monitoring and invasive species research.
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What this is
This EPA grant funds sample collection and laboratory analysis of three key aquatic organism groups (zooplankton, Mysis shrimp, and benthic invertebrates) to monitor Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Applicants must have expertise in analyzing community abundance and composition of these organisms. The program specifically examines impacts from invasive species like quagga mussels and generates data for fisheries and habitat management decisions across all five Great Lakes.
Who can apply
Eligible entities (specific types detailed in NOFO Additional Information section) must demonstrate capability to analyze zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate communities. Organizations located within or serving the Great Lakes basin preferred; university research centers, state agencies, and non-profits typically eligible.
Eligible applicant types
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Full description — from the agency
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) solicits applications from eligible entities for grants to be awarded pursuant to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan IV. The Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program (GLBMP) fulfills EPA's statutory obligation specified in Clean Water Act Section 118(c)(B) to establish a Great Lakes system-wide surveillance network to monitor the water quality of the Great Lakes. The goals of the GLBMP are to (1) report on Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem condition using assessments of the lower food web (phytoplankton, chlorophyll, zooplankton, Mysis and benthic invertebrates) as indicators; (2) assess the impacts to the lower food web from invasive species including quagga mussels; and (3) inform fisheries and habitat management. The Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is requesting applications for a project to complete sample collection and analyses in support of the zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate components of the GLBMP. The targeted audience for this funding opportunity is eligible entities listed below capable of analyzing zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate community abundance and composition. The intended beneficiaries of the GLBMP are all those who live, recreate, or work within the Great Lakes basin.
Topics: great lakes monitoring · zooplankton analysis · benthic invertebrates · water quality surveillance · invasive species assessment · glri funding · aquatic ecosystem monitoring
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.