Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes

To provide financial support to Water Resources Research Institutes located at designated State universities in each of the 50 States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern M

The Water Resources Research Act established a federal-state partnership to support water research, technology transfer and training through each state- or territory-based research institutes. The USGS Water Resources Research Act program works directly with each designated Water Resource Research Institute in each U.S. State and Territory.

One University Water Research Institute is authorized in each State and other jurisdictions specified in Section 104. Other colleges and universities within a State are encouraged to participate in the program in cooperation with the designated Institute.

Researchers at qualified universities and colleges in the State through the designated Institute for the State.

This program has two parts: a mandatory formula grant program and a competitive project grant program. The mandatory grant program provides the State Institutes with funds to support a State and regional program of water resources research and information transfer. This may include basic or applied research, setting up conferences to discuss research needs or results, conduct of research, information dissemination, and training of students as a byproduct of research. In general the funds are used to study regional, State, or local water problems, but the results may often have national significance. The competitive project grant program supports research focused on water problems of a regional or interstate nature and which relate to program priorities identified jointly by the State Institutes and the Geological Survey. Federal funds cannot be used for (1) formal instructional activities and general education, and (2) the cost of permanent buildings, either directly or indirectly.

Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms.

Formula Grant Program: Requires each Institute to collaborate with State interests in defining research priorities and to coordinate with other Institutes in the region to avoid duplication of effort. Competitive Grant Program: Requires that the Institutes collectively collaborate with the Geological Survey in setting research priorities.

Competitive Grant Program: Relevance to announced priorities, technical merit, prospects of attaining objectives in period specified and potential for student training.

Formula Grant Program: Geological Survey approves or rejects, in part or as a whole, the program submitted by each State Institute. The State Institutes are notified of any amendments necessary to obtain Geological Survey approval. Competitive Grant Program: Geological Survey conducts a formal review and selection procedure and approves or reject applications as a whole. Notification of an award is by receipt of a grant or cooperative agreement from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer.

RFPs for Base Grants and the nationally competitive proposals have not yet been posted to Grant.gov as of June 26, 2025 pending Notice of Funding Opportunity review and approval for all four NOFOs (104b, 104g, PFAS, AIS).

90 days.

Formula Grant Program: Deficiencies noted by the Geological Survey can normally be corrected by the State Institutes. Competitive Grant Program: None.