Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Office of Integrative Activities and the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050), awarded $342,230 to the University of Wisconsin - Madison for a collaborative research project spanning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. This Project Grant investigates how repeated cycles of drought and extreme rainfall—termed hydrologic intensification—alter near-surface soil properties and the ability of soils to absorb, store, and move water. The research addresses an increasingly critical environmental challenge as rapid shifts between hydrological extremes elevate risks of flooding and drought across the United States.

The project delivers integrated field and laboratory research products designed to quantify soil property changes across agricultural, woodland, and mountain environments in Indiana, California, and Idaho. Field experiments will simulate controlled drought and extreme rainfall conditions on small plots to measure infiltration-controlling soil properties before and after hydrologic events under varying soil, vegetation, and snow conditions. Complementary laboratory experiments will extend findings by testing how soil texture, vegetation density, soil compaction, freezing conditions, and snow cover influence soil responses to hydrologic extremes. The research generates publicly available tutorials, scientific publications, and outreach products shared through workshops with farmers, water managers, and the scientific community, while training graduate and undergraduate students. No sub-awards are planned for this award.