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.Apply for NPS NOIP17AC00470 02
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "GLNF-CESU: Survey Research for St. Croix NSR Phase 2- SACN."
Which agency is offering this funding?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary cooperative agreement under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of funding mechanism is this?
The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which indicates an assisted project carried out in partnership with the National Park Service rather than a simple purchase of services.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is designed to help the National Park Service understand how people use the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, especially at river access points and landings, so the park can make better planning and management decisions and keep riverway use compatible with the park's purposes.
What park unit or area is being studied?
The study focuses on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, covering landings across the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers.
How large is the study area?
The scope spans multiple landings across roughly 250 miles of river corridor, indicating a broad, corridor-wide focus rather than a single site.
What kinds of data will be collected?
The project centers on systematic visitor observation and visitor surveys. Observation is used to count and characterize waterfront users at key landings, while surveys capture self-reported experiences and preferences.
What does "systematic visitor observation" mean in this project?
It refers to structured counting and characterization of users at selected landings, including tracking how many people are present and what kinds of activities are taking place, along with the mix of user types at those locations.
What topics are the visitor surveys intended to cover?
Based on the description, surveys are intended to collect self-reported information about visitor experiences and preferences, including perspectives on what types of use are appropriate or acceptable.
When will the fieldwork take place?
The project is designed to be conducted during the riverway's peak season, described as roughly April 15 through October 15, depending on weather conditions.
Why does the opportunity emphasize the peak season?
The peak season is when use is heaviest, so collecting observations and surveys during this time is intended to provide practical, on-the-ground data about visitation volume, activity types, and potential issues at landings.
What is meant by "acceptability preferences" in the deliverables?
In this context, "acceptability preferences" refers to what visitors and other river users consider acceptable regarding different types and levels of use at the selected landings. The park intends to use those preferences, alongside observed conditions, to shape management strategies.
What are the expected deliverables?
A key deliverable is the development of specific management strategies informed by acceptability preferences and the best available research at the selected landings. The overall expectation is that findings will translate into actionable guidance for park planning and operations.
How will the National Park Service use the results?
The results are intended to feed directly into management and visitor experience decisions across the river corridor. Potential uses include adjusting how landings are managed during peak times, refining how commercial activity fits with park purposes, and targeting improvements that address crowding, user conflicts, or amenity gaps.
Does the opportunity indicate that management decisions could change based on the findings?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly emphasizes a public purpose element where park management policies and strategies may change based on the investigator's findings and the survey results from the general public.
Who is leading the work?
The work is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Ingrid Schneider.
Is this a new project or a continuation of previous work?
It is described as a continuation of an existing research partnership between the National Park Service and the University of Minnesota, suggesting it builds on established study designs, relationships, and prior findings.
What is the timeline or key milestone mentioned?
The opportunity indicates that by June 30, 2022, the park expects to have enough evidence and analysis to translate findings into management strategies it can implement or use in planning and operational decisions.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.945.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates a single award, indicating a focused, single-recipient project rather than multiple awards to different recipients.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $304,253.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on June 22, 2018, and the original closing date was July 10, 2018.
What kinds of river use is the study trying to understand?
The focus is on both public recreation and commercial activity at river access points and landings, with an emphasis on documenting how the riverway is being used and whether those uses are compatible with the park's purposes.
Is the study focused only on counting visitors?
No. In addition to counting and characterizing users through observation, the project includes visitor surveys to capture experience-based information and preferences, including acceptability of different uses.
Why does the project combine observation and surveys?
Observation provides direct documentation of conditions and activity at landings, while surveys provide self-reported context about experiences and preferences. Together, they are intended to create a clearer picture of visitation volume, types of use, and public perceptions of appropriateness and acceptability.
What kinds of management issues could the findings help address?
Based on the description, the findings could support decisions related to peak-time landing management, compatibility of commercial activity, crowding, conflicts among user groups, and targeted improvements to facilities or amenities.
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