California Sea Grant and the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) are now soliciting proposals for two research calls to advance microplastics understanding and management in California, consistent with the priorities outlined in the California Ocean Litter Strategy and Statewide Microplastics Strategy.
Donor Name: California Sea Grant
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/24/2023
Size of the Grant: $1,450,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
These requests for proposals seek to increase understanding and management of environmental microplastic contamination by informing improved management of specific microplastic sources, refining and improving understanding of microplastic effects in the environment, and informing the use of structural low impact development (LID) stormwater management approaches to intervene and prevent microplastics from reaching California aquatic environments.
Microplastic particles (1 nm to 5 mm in size) are pervasive and persistent in our communities and environment with estimates of plastic entering the global ocean anticipated to increase exponentially each year. Microplastic exposures can cause adverse effects on marine life, including tissue inflammation, impaired growth, developmental anomalies, reproductive difficulties, and mortality. Meanwhile, severely disadvantaged and disadvantaged communities in California may have disproportionate exposure to microplastics through environmental contamination, inhalation and drinking water due to proximity to plastic manufacturing facilities, dense highways, among other causes of plastic particle emissions.
Research Priorities
CALL 1: IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF AQUATIC MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION SOURCES AND ECOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY ($375,000 per project maximum)
This competitive call for projects relates to the fate, transport, source attribution, and/or assessment of environmental effects caused by microplastics that enter state surface waters and the marine environment. Projects should be capable of informing management action to address and prevent microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment and/or assessing microplastic effects.
Priority projects related to this call include, but are not limited to, one of the following:
Investigations of microplastic contamination from specific sources quantified in the environment and/or ambient waters. Sources may include agricultural microplastic contamination, specific and identifiable aerial sources such as clothing dryers, wildfires that occur in the wildland urban interface, or industrial discharges, including plastic production, recycling, composting, and bioplastic production facilities. Proposed research questions may address, but are not limited to:
- Improved understanding of to what extent, and from what specific sources or practices (e.g., composted or degraded plastics), the agricultural sector may contribute to microplastics in California ambient waters or marine environment.
- Improved understanding of to what extent wastewater treatment byproducts (e.g., biosolids) introduce microplastics into agricultural soils, compared to soils without application of wastewater treatment byproducts.
- Improved understanding of specific and identifiable sources and pathways by which microplastics enter California ambient waters to inform management actions that may reduce microplastic loading.
Environmentally relevant microplastic exposure effects and thresholds, including the bioavailability of microplastic morphologies (e.g., size, shape, eco-corona, etc.) and associated chemicals to evaluate hazards and dose-response relationships on marine organisms, endangered/threatened species, and associated human health impacts to inform and refine microplastic risk assessments. Studies incorporating the following are preferred: using organisms most representative of species occurring in California’s aquatic ecosystems, organisms highly sensitive to microplastics, and/or experimental designs utilizing meso- or macrocosm, in situ observations, and/or continuous environmental monitoring. Proposed research questions may address, but are not limited to:
- Dose-response relationships of environmentally relevant (e.g., polydisperse, realistic weathering and biofouling, etc.) microplastics with an emphasis on data-poor microplastic polymers and morphologies (e.g., microfiber and/or tire wear particles) to inform management recommendations. Studies designed to meet minimum quality criteria (de Ruijter et al. 2020) are strongly preferred.
- Improved understanding of effect mechanisms, including demonstration of ecologically and/or toxicologically relevant metrics (e.g., volume, surface area) and adverse outcome pathways.
A total of $950,000 is available for Research Call 1. Three to six projects are anticipated to be selected for funding and range from a minimum of $80,000 to a maximum of $375,000 (to include indirect costs, if any). The anticipated start date of these projects is approximately October 1, 2023. The duration of a project request is typically two years, although requests for a one-year award will also be considered.
CALL 2: MICROPLASTIC REMOVAL EFFICACY OF LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID): STRUCTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs) ($500,000 per project maximum)
This competitive call for projects relates to microplastic removal efficacy of low impact development (LID): structural best management practices (BMPs). The research call seeks to inform the design, location, and use of structural LID BMPs in urban watersheds with high trash generation rates that are co-located in severely disadvantaged community or disadvantaged communities (SDAC/DAC) as defined by California Water Code section 79505.5, subdivision (a). Projects must provide tangible recommendations for effective LID design, operations, and management strategies.
This research call seeks to address the following:
- Determine specific locations and factors (e.g., environmental, hydrogeologic conditions, land use characteristics) within California urban watersheds that have the highest potential to reduce macro- and microplastic loading into the environment with structural LID BMPs.
- Evaluate structural LID BMPs, including an evaluation of site-specific soil conditions, effects of bioretention soil media composition, effects on biota (e.g. vegetation, at what concentrations will structural LID BMPs no longer function due to degradation of biota caused by microplastics or relevant stormwater contaminants), and design factors (including but not limited to structural BMP dimensions, pre-treatment, soil compaction level), to inform LID design, operations, and management strategies that are most effective in intercepting and reducing microplastic loading in the aquatic and marine environment.
- Evaluate the effects of microplastic polymer, size, and shape on the efficacy of stormwater BMPs for microplastic interception.
- Investigate retention of microplastics in (and any subsequent release from) infiltration BMPs and identify possible maintenance steps to maximize performance of an infiltration BMP during its design life.
- Identify recommendations and best practices to inform the application of structural LID as a stormwater management approach to intercept macro- and microplastic, including operations and maintenance recommendations for specific LID approaches.
A total of $500,000 is available for Research Call 2. It is anticipated one to two projects will be selected for funding and range from a minimum of $200,000 to $500,000 (to include indirect costs, if any). The anticipated start date of these projects is approximately October 1, 2023. The duration of a project request is typically two years, although requests for a one-year award will also be considered.
Funding Information
California Sea Grant and OPC are soliciting proposals for projects that are up to 2 years in duration through two research calls. There is a total of $1,450,000 available for this combined research solicitation. California Sea Grant will contribute $375,000 of NOAA Sea Grant funds to Research Call 1 and OPC will contribute an additional $1,075,000 for projects under Research Calls 1 and 2. The anticipated start date for all projects is approximately October 1, 2023. California Sea Grant will lead grant administration for both solicitations on behalf of OPC.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for this competitive grant program include public agencies, tribes and Tribal governments, public or private universities, nonprofit corporations, or private entities subject to Public Resources Code Section 35650. Projects must benefit the state of California, relatedly, California applicants will be highly prioritized. California Sea Grant is the final arbiter of decisions regarding eligibility.
For more information, visit California Sea Grant.
