Applied Science Grants

The objective of the Applied Science Grants is to provide funding to non-Federal entities for the development of tools and information to support water management. Eligible projects include the development of modeling and forecasting tools, hydrologi

The Applied Science Grants provides funding to non-Federal entities to improve access to and use of hydrologic data, develop and improve water management tools, and improve hydrologic modeling and forecasting capabilities. Water managers and reservoir operators rely on hydrologic data, modeling, and water supply forecasts to make decisions to meet future water demands. Water supply forecasts are estimates of current and future water supplies based on measured basin conditions (e.g., such as the quantity of upstream mountain snowpack). Results from these projects will be used by water managers to increase water supply reliability to meet water delivery requirements (e.g., compacts, decrees, etc.), provide flexibility in water operations to be more resilient during droughts, and enhance water supply forecasts to better predict floods and optimize limited water supplies. Example projects include improving operational models for irrigation water deliveries or reservoir operations, improving the use of snow monitoring technologies to enhance the skill of water supply forecasts, and improving data acquisition, data analysis, and data delivery, including the development of hydrologic databases.

See above.

General public, entities with water or power delivery authority, state, county, and local governmental entities, Tribes, watershed groups, nonprofit conservation organizations and other entities located in eligible states and territories previously described in applicant eligibility.

Through Applied Science Grants, Reclamation provides cost-shared financial assistance on a competitive basis for projects to develop tools and information for: (1) assessing water availability and quality, (2) assessing risks to water supplies from drought and other water management challenges (e.g., invasive species, sedimentation, managing to meet competing water demands, meeting endangered species requirements, etc.), and (3) assessing and evaluating watershed management practices.

Proposed projects should be completed within 2 years from the project start date.

None. Preapplication coordination is not required but is highly encouraged. Potential applicants can contact Reclamation program staff to discuss their project. Contact information can be found at https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart.

Criteria are specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. For more information, see https://www.usbr.gov./watersmart.

Proposals received in response to the funding opportunity are reviewed through a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the funding opportunity. Reclamation will make awards to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year.

Deadlines are identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and vary from year to year. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines.

See Reclamation's WaterSMART website, https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/, for additional schedule information.

Upon request, Reclamation will provide all applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected.