GLNF-CESU: Survey Research for St. Croix NSR Phase 2- SACN | NPS NOIP17AC00470 02

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP17AC00470 02

The grant opportunity titled "GLNF-CESU: Survey Research for St. Croix NSR Phase 2- SACN" is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement focused on understanding how people use the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, particularly at river access points and landings. The core aim is practical: the park wants solid, on-the-ground data about public recreation and commercial activity so it can make better planning decisions and ensure that use of the riverway remains compatible with the park's purposes. This work is designed to feed directly into management and visitor experience decisions across a large, heavily used river corridor.

The project centers on systematic visitor observation and survey research conducted during the riverway's peak season, defined as roughly April 15 through October 15, depending on weather conditions. In plain terms, researchers will be counting and characterizing waterfront users at key landings, tracking not only the number of visitors but also the types of activities occurring and the mix of users present. Alongside observation, the project relies on visitor surveys to capture self-reported information about experiences and preferences. Together, these methods are meant to provide a clearer picture of visitation volume, unique types of use, and how appropriate or acceptable different uses are from the public's perspective.

The work is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Ingrid Schneider and is described as a continuation of an existing research partnership between the National Park Service and the University of Minnesota. That matters because it signals this is not a brand-new, stand-alone effort; it is intended to build on established study designs, relationships, and prior findings. The research scope spans multiple landings across about 250 miles of the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers, which indicates the park is looking for patterns and management insights that apply across the broader riverway rather than at a single site.

A key deliverable is the development of specific management strategies informed by "acceptability preferences" and the best available research at the selected landings. In practice, that means the park wants actionable recommendations grounded in what visitors and other river users consider acceptable, as well as what the observations reveal about actual conditions. The timeline described in the opportunity indicates that by June 30, 2022, the park expects to have enough evidence and analysis to translate findings into strategies it can implement or use in planning documents and operational decisions.

The opportunity also emphasizes a public purpose element: park management policies and strategies may change based on the investigator's findings and the survey results from the general public. This frames the research as a tool for public engagement and responsive management, where decisions about facilities, use patterns, and visitor experience improvements can be justified with documented data rather than anecdote. Potential outcomes could include adjustments to how landings are managed during peak times, refinements to commercial activity compatibility, or targeted improvements that address crowding, conflicts among user groups, or gaps in amenities.

Administratively, this funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement under the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and it falls under the activity category of environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development. The CFDA number listed is 15.945. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which aligns with the university partnership described. The opportunity was created on June 22, 2018, with an original closing date of July 10, 2018. It anticipates a single award with an award ceiling of $304,253, suggesting a focused, single-recipient research project rather than a broad competitive pool of multiple awards.

Overall, the grant supports a targeted research effort to document who is using the St. Croix Scenic Riverway, how they are using it, and how those uses are perceived by the public, then convert that evidence into management strategies the park can apply across a long stretch of interconnected river recreation sites. The emphasis on observation plus surveys, peak-season timing, and deliverable management guidance makes the project clearly geared toward real-world park operations and planning, not just academic reporting.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "GLNF-CESU: Survey Research for St. Croix NSR Phase 2- SACN" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 10, 2018. (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 $304,253.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for NPS NOIP17AC00470 02

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