Understanding thermal mixing, water quality improvements, and algae dynamics with the pulsing of releases from Jordan Reservoir | W81EWF 20 SOI 0026

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 20 SOI 0026

This discretionary research grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 20 SOI 0026) comes from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Department of Defense and is tied to the Sustainable Rivers Program (SRP), a national partnership between The Nature Conservancy and the Corps. The SRP focuses on improving river health by taking a close look at how Corps infrastructure, especially dams and reservoir release schedules, influences downstream ecosystems and water quality. In this case, the project centers on the B. Everett Jordan Dam (Jordan Dam) and how releases from Jordan Reservoir may be adjusted or better understood to support ecological conditions in the Cape Fear River Basin.

The Cape Fear River Basin was selected for SRP work because it has a dense overlap of human and natural needs and a strong community of technical stakeholders. The basin serves more than two million people (about one-fifth of North Carolina's population as of the 2010 census) and includes rapidly growing urban areas such as Durham, Greensboro, Pittsboro, Fayetteville, and Wilmington. Those communities contribute stormwater and other runoff to the system, while many also rely on the river as a drinking water source. At the same time, the basin supports extensive aquatic biodiversity, including dozens of recreational fish species and rare aquatic species, plus important riparian habitats with exceptionally old trees documented in the region.

A key driver for this funding is the recurring problem of harmful algal blooms in parts of the lower river, particularly in pooled, lower-velocity areas upstream of and around Lock and Dam 1. These blooms can degrade ecological health and have been associated with fish kills. They also create practical challenges for drinking water utilities, because algal biomass and related byproducts can strain treatment processes and reduce operational flexibility. Because the Corps operates Jordan Dam, there is a clear management lever: changes in the timing and magnitude of releases can alter flow, temperature, and mixing conditions downstream, potentially reducing the environmental conditions that favor bloom formation or persistence.

The opportunity is aimed at evaluating flow-based recommendations that stakeholders have already begun to identify, especially the idea of using pulse releases to flush sluggish reaches and disrupt conditions that allow algae to accumulate. Beyond flushing, the description points to drought conditions and temperature-related improvements as additional factors that may be influenced by how releases are managed. The core purpose of the requested study is to generate data and analysis linking Jordan Reservoir release patterns to measurable downstream water-quality responses, creating a stronger scientific basis for operational decisions within SRP.

The anticipated work has three closely related technical objectives. First, the project will characterize thermal stratification in the Cape Fear River, with particular emphasis on conditions near Lock and Dam 1, where stratification and limited mixing can contribute to poor water quality and promote algal growth. Second, it will correlate different river flow rates, including pulsed release events, with the extent of thermal mixing in the water column, essentially testing whether increased flows measurably break down stratification and improve circulation. Third, it will track key water-quality constituents in relation to flow, with special attention to chlorophyll a as a standard indicator of algal biomass, to see whether changes in discharge correspond to changes in algal dynamics.

Overall, the grant is meant to connect reservoir operations to downstream outcomes in a practical way: relating Corps water management decisions at Jordan Dam to observed temperature structure, mixing behavior, and algae-related water-quality indicators in the lower Cape Fear. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, with an anticipated single award and a stated ceiling of $25,000. The opportunity was originally posted June 4, 2020, with an original closing date of July 31, 2020, and it is listed under CFDA 12.630 in the science and technology/research and development category.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- Corps of Engineers in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding thermal mixing, water quality improvements, and algae dynamics with the pulsing of releases from Jordan Reservoir" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 04, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2020. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for W81EWF 20 SOI 0026

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