Western Snowy Plover Recovery at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve | F17AS00178

Western Snowy Plover Recovery at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve - FAQs

What is the Western Snowy Plover Recovery at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve grant?

This is a targeted conservation grant focused on improving breeding outcomes for the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) in South San Francisco Bay, specifically at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve.

Why is this project needed?

The opportunity addresses two major constraints affecting local plovers: strong predation pressure and a shrinking supply of suitable nesting habitat. Habitat availability is changing in part because salt pond restoration is converting some managed pond areas into tidal marsh, which can reduce managed "panne" habitat used for nesting.

Why does plover productivity in San Francisco Bay matter beyond the local area?

The grant description emphasizes that plover productivity in the San Francisco Bay is important to the stability of the species across its broader Pacific coast range.

What are the main strategies or activities funded by this grant?

The grant supports three connected strategies: (1) on-the-ground monitoring of plover breeding activity (including nesting distribution and nesting density), (2) identifying key predators and implementing predator management or control where appropriate to reduce nest loss and improve productivity, and (3) outreach and education to build community support for plover recovery.

What does "monitoring" include under this opportunity?

Monitoring is described as on-the-ground tracking of plover breeding activity, including where birds attempt to nest (nesting distribution) and how concentrated nesting is across areas (nesting density), along with information needed to understand nesting outcomes under current conditions.

How does this grant address predation impacts on nests?

The project includes identifying key predators affecting nesting success and implementing predator management or control efforts where appropriate, with the goal of reducing nest loss and improving overall productivity.

What is the purpose of the outreach and education component?

The outreach and education component is intended to build community support for plover recovery. This can be important where public access, recreation, pets, and other human activity can affect sensitive nesting areas.

Is this grant intended to support research or management?

The work is framed as producing practical, management-ready information rather than general research findings, with monitoring results intended to inform recovery project planning, habitat management, and broader conservation actions for the species.

How does the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project relate to this grant?

The opportunity notes that ongoing restoration is converting some managed salt pond areas into tidal marsh, which may reduce managed nesting habitat. Because restoration changes where habitat exists and how birds use the landscape over time, the grant emphasizes careful monitoring at Eden Landing to track displacement risk, breeding success trends, and potential unintended long-term impacts.

What questions is the project trying to answer through monitoring?

Based on the description, monitoring is meant to help managers determine whether plovers are being displaced as restoration progresses, whether breeding success is holding steady or declining, and whether restoration actions are creating unintended long-term impacts on nesting habitat and productivity.

What are the expected deliverables or outputs?

A central deliverable is data that can directly guide restoration and conservation decision-making. The project is also framed as producing habitat enhancement and nesting density information that can be used in recovery planning, habitat management, and broader conservation actions.

Does the project benefit other wildlife besides Western Snowy Plovers?

Yes. The description notes that salt ponds are used by multiple breeding shorebird species and by very large numbers of wintering shorebirds. Improving understanding of how habitat changes affect shorebirds can support wider ecosystem management goals in the region.

Who is offering this grant?

The grant is a discretionary award offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.

What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?

The funding opportunity number is F17AS00178, and it is listed under CFDA 15.678 (environment-related assistance).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status that are not institutions of higher education.

How many awards were expected?

The opportunity anticipated a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1).

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling listed for the opportunity is $68,975.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posting was created on March 30, 2017, and the original closing date was April 6, 2017, reflecting a short application window typical of some targeted solicitations.

What geographic area does this grant focus on?

The work is focused on Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in South San Francisco Bay, with relevance to regional habitat changes associated with restoration in the South Bay.

What species is the grant specifically focused on?

The primary focus is the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus).

What is the overall goal of the project?

Overall, the grant is designed to support measurable, near-term improvements in plover breeding success at Eden Landing while generating information that helps ensure regional restoration efforts remain compatible with long-term species recovery goals.