Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00171
Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Vulnerable Coastal Cultural Resources is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00171) created to address a growing gap in knowledge about how rapid Arctic climate change is affecting coastal archaeological sites in northwest Alaska. Developed by cultural resource staff within the Western Arctic Parklands (WEAR) and Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (BELA), the project focuses on coastal cultural resources in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (BELA) and Cape Krusenstern National Monument (CAKR). The underlying problem the project targets is straightforward but urgent: while scientists and cultural resource managers have long understood that Arctic coastal sites are threatened by environmental change, there had not been a systematic, up-to-date assessment of which specific sites are most vulnerable, what condition they are in, and what kinds of losses are likely in the near future.
The opportunity is framed around the reality that climate change impacts in the Arctic are unusually dramatic and fast-moving. The description highlights several key drivers of damage to cultural sites: rising sea levels, more frequent and more severe storms that accelerate coastal erosion, and increasing permafrost thaw. Permafrost thaw is especially important for archaeology in the Arctic because frozen ground can preserve organic materials (such as wood, bone, plant fibers, and other fragile artifacts) for long periods; when thaw occurs, those materials can decay quickly or be physically washed away as shorelines destabilize. Together, these processes can lead not only to the loss of site integrity but also to the irreversible loss of scientific and cultural information.
The project is designed as a multi-year effort (described as a four-year project) with staged phases that move from discovery and documentation to decision-making and, ultimately, mitigation. In the first phase, the work emphasizes field-based coastal survey and site visits, with three main goals: locating previously unknown archaeological sites along the coasts of BELA and CAKR, revisiting known sites that have not been checked in many years, and assessing current site condition. This phase is meant to build an updated baseline record of what exists on the ground, where it is, and how it is changing.
The second phase shifts from field inventory to analytical prioritization. The grant description calls for developing and applying a "vulnerability matrix" to the data collected in phase one. That matrix is intended to help rank sites according to risk and importance so managers can focus limited resources where they matter most. The prioritization criteria described include the relative significance of each site, the level of disturbance already present, and the likelihood that the site will be damaged or destroyed in the near future. In other words, it is not just about which sites are eroding fastest, but also about which losses would be most consequential and which sites are most imminently threatened.
After the most significant and vulnerable sites are identified, the project envisions a third phase centered on treatment and mitigation planning led by NPS staff. The description indicates that this could involve collecting data through excavation or using other protective measures aimed at preventing imminent loss. This is essentially a move from assessment to action: once high-risk sites are identified, the program can choose appropriate interventions, which might include emergency documentation, targeted recovery of information, or other site protection strategies depending on feasibility and urgency.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, reflecting an expectation of substantial involvement by the federal agency in the project. It falls under the Humanities activity category (noted as Cultural Affairs in CFDA) with CFDA number 15.945. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The notice states it is a notice of intent to award to Portland State University, with an expected single award. The listed award ceiling is $100,000. The opportunity was created on April 6, 2017, with an original closing date of April 17, 2017, indicating a short submission window consistent with a targeted, intended-recipient award process.
Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as a structured effort to bring Arctic coastal archaeology management up to speed with the pace of climate-driven change. It aims to produce an updated inventory of coastal sites, a defensible framework for ranking vulnerability and significance, and a pathway toward timely mitigation so that the most threatened cultural resources in BELA and CAKR can be addressed before erosion, storms, and thaw result in permanent loss.Apply for P17AS00171
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Vulnerable Coastal Cultural Resources" 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 Apr 06, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2017 This is a notice of intent to award to Portland State University.. (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 $100,000.00 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 Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Vulnerable Coastal Cultural Resources.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P17AS00171.
What problem is the project intended to address?
The project targets a growing knowledge gap about how rapid Arctic climate change is affecting coastal archaeological sites in northwest Alaska. While it has long been understood that Arctic coastal sites are threatened, the opportunity emphasizes that there had not been a systematic, up-to-date assessment identifying which specific sites are most vulnerable, their current condition, and what losses are likely in the near future.
Where will the project work take place?
The project focuses on coastal cultural resources in two NPS units in northwest Alaska: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (BELA) and Cape Krusenstern National Monument (CAKR).
Who developed the project?
The project was developed by cultural resource staff within the Western Arctic Parklands (WEAR) and Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (BELA).
Why is this project considered urgent?
The opportunity is framed around unusually dramatic and fast-moving Arctic climate impacts. It highlights that coastal erosion, storms, sea level rise, and permafrost thaw can quickly damage sites and cause irreversible loss of scientific and cultural information.
What climate-related drivers of damage are highlighted?
The description identifies several key drivers: rising sea levels, more frequent and more severe storms that accelerate coastal erosion, and increasing permafrost thaw.
Why is permafrost thaw especially important for Arctic archaeology?
Permafrost can preserve organic archaeological materials (such as wood, bone, and plant fibers) for long periods. When thaw occurs, those materials can decay rapidly or be washed away as shorelines destabilize, leading to loss of site integrity and information.
How long is the project expected to last?
The opportunity describes the work as a multi-year effort, specifically a four-year project with staged phases.
What happens in Phase 1 of the project?
Phase 1 emphasizes field-based coastal survey and site visits with three main goals: (1) locating previously unknown archaeological sites along the coasts of BELA and CAKR, (2) revisiting known sites that have not been checked in many years, and (3) assessing current site condition to create an updated baseline record.
What is meant by an "updated baseline record"?
Based on the description, it means establishing current, on-the-ground documentation of what sites exist, where they are located, and how they are changing, including condition assessments and updated observations from site visits and surveys.
What happens in Phase 2 of the project?
Phase 2 shifts from field inventory to analysis and prioritization. The project will develop and apply a vulnerability matrix to rank sites based on risk and importance, supporting decisions about where to focus limited resources.
What is a "vulnerability matrix" in this context?
The opportunity describes it as an analytical tool used to rank archaeological sites according to vulnerability and importance using the data collected during fieldwork, so managers can prioritize actions.
What criteria are used to prioritize sites?
The description lists prioritization criteria including: (1) the relative significance of each site, (2) the level of disturbance already present, and (3) the likelihood of near-term damage or destruction. It emphasizes that prioritization is not only about erosion rates, but also about the consequences of loss and how imminent the threat is.
What happens in Phase 3 of the project?
After identifying the most significant and vulnerable sites, Phase 3 focuses on treatment and mitigation planning led by NPS staff. The description indicates this could include collecting data through excavation or using other protective measures intended to prevent imminent loss.
What types of mitigation actions are mentioned?
The opportunity describes potential actions such as excavation-based data collection and other protective measures. It characterizes this phase as moving from assessment to action, potentially including emergency documentation, targeted recovery of information, or other site protection strategies depending on feasibility and urgency.
What type of award instrument is being used?
The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, indicating the expectation of substantial involvement by the federal agency in the project.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
It is listed under the Humanities activity category, noted as Cultural Affairs in CFDA.
What is the CFDA number?
The CFDA number provided is 15.945.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Is this opportunity open competition or targeted?
The notice states it is a notice of intent to award to Portland State University with an expected single award, which indicates a targeted, intended-recipient award process rather than a broad competitive opportunity.
Who is the intended recipient named in the notice?
The notice identifies Portland State University as the intended recipient.
How many awards are expected?
The description indicates an expected single award.
What is the maximum funding amount mentioned?
The listed award ceiling is $100,000.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 6, 2017.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is April 17, 2017.
How long was the submission window?
Based on the provided dates (April 6, 2017 to April 17, 2017), the submission window was short, consistent with the description of a targeted notice of intent to award.
What is the overall goal of the project?
The overall goal is to bring Arctic coastal archaeology management in BELA and CAKR up to speed with the pace of climate-driven change by producing: (1) an updated inventory of coastal sites, (2) a defensible vulnerability and significance ranking framework, and (3) a pathway toward timely mitigation before erosion, storms, and thaw cause permanent loss.
What kinds of losses is the project trying to prevent?
The opportunity emphasizes preventing loss of site integrity and the irreversible loss of scientific and cultural information, particularly where organic materials preserved in permafrost are at risk of rapid decay or removal once thaw and erosion occur.
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