Water Use and Data Research
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.981
- Agency
-
US Geological Survey
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 71 $6,775,414 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- WUDR
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 14-0804-0-1-306
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The U.S. Geological Survey is no longer accepting external funding applications under the Water Use Data and Research program (CFDA 15.981), though two awards totaling approximately $276,196 in federal funds were obligated as recently as September 2024. The program historically supported state water resource agencies in collecting, improving, and reporting water-use data integrated with USGS datasets, with projects spanning public supply, irrigation, industrial, thermoelectric, and self-supplied domestic water use categories. All funded projects operated on fixed two-year durations.
The portfolio contains 71 total awards disbursed since November 2016, with funding activity concentrated heavily in 2020 and 2021 (11 and 7 awards respectively) before declining sharply to 1 award in 2022 and 2–3 annually thereafter. Combined federal dollars obligated total $6.8 million across all awards; non-federal cost-share contributions added $300 thousand, indicating modest recipient matching. Recent awards range from $24,000 to $199,283 in federal obligation. The assistance-type distribution is predominantly cooperative agreements (99 percent, 70 awards) with a single Project Grant representing the remaining 1 percent.
The Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Office of Acquisitions and Grants supplied 56 awards ($4.6 million), dominating the funding base; the broader USGS entity funded 14 additional awards ($1.2 million); and the Department of the Army Materiel Command Research Development and Engineering Command contributed 1 award ($981 thousand). Eligibility was restricted to state agencies that collect and maintain water-use data, with the requirement that only one agency per state submit proposals, though states could coordinate multi-agency work through a single submission.
Recent funded projects included West Virginia's quality assurance improvements to its large-quantity user database and facility identification system (September 2024, $119,687), U.S. Virgin Islands' initial water resource assessment and spatial database development for wells and desalination plants (September 2024, $156,509), and Wisconsin's quality-control implementation on self-reported monthly withdrawals with historical database expansion (September 2023, $199,283). The most recent grant opportunity (G24AS00194) posted December 13, 2023, with an April 11, 2024 deadline, but no new solicitation has opened since that round closed. The program announcement indicated that limited funding was available and that discussions regarding funding availability were strongly encouraged, signaling a constrained envelope and suggesting the program's current inactive status reflects funding exhaustion rather than policy discontinuation.
Objective and description
- Objective
External Funding from this program is no longer available. In pervious years, when external funding from this program was active, the goal as to support State water resource agencies in developing water use and availability datasets that are integr
- Description
External Funding from this program is no longer available. In pervious years, when external funding from this program was active, the goal as to support State water resource agencies in developing water use and availability datasets that are integrated with each appropriate dataset developed or maintained by the USGS or that integrate any water use or water availability dataset of the State water resource agency into each appropriate dataset developed or maintained by the USGS. The Water Use Data and Research program will allow State Water Resource agencies to improve the collection and reporting frequency of water use categories, including the inclusion of categories that have been discontinued in the past due to limited resources. Data collection, and improvement efforts, as well as research conducted will complement priorities and investigations carried by Federal, State, and Local Governments, and by private industry in water availability assessments for human and ecological uses.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Proposals will be accepted from state agencies that collect and maintain water use data and databases. Various elements of the data that are required for the Water Use Data and Research (WUDR) program are often available from different agencies within a state; however only one agency is eligible to submit a proposal for the program. We ask that State agencies collaborate in this instance, and States may submit a single proposal that covers the work of multiple state agencies. Coordination of agencies within a state is strongly encouraged to avoid proposals that overlap.
- Beneficiary eligibility
State, Federally recognized Indian Tribal, and local governments, public nonprofit institutions/organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, profit organizations, industry and public decision makers, research scientists, engineers, and the general public will ultimately benefit from data made available through the program.
- Uses of assistance
Funding will be used to support State Water Resource agencies in improving data collection techniques and methods, data delivery and management, and data integration with each appropriate dataset developed or maintained by the USGS. Funding for each State cannot exceed $250,000 cumulatively over the length of the program.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
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. Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Discussions regarding funding availability and program interest are strongly encouraged, as limited funding is available for new projects.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
The criteria for selecting proposals are included in the program announcement
- Award procedure
Notification of an award is by receipt of a grant or cooperative agreement from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer.
- Deadlines
The Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) program offered one application round in FY2024. The round was open from December 13, 2023, to April 11, 2024.
- Renewals
All projects have a limited duration not to exceed two years.
Grant opportunities
Show all 12
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 71 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado State University | $980,701 | 14% |
| 2 | Department Of Natural Resources | $250,000 | 4% |
| 3 | North Dakota Department Of Water Resources | $224,000 | 3% |
| 4 | University Of Illinois | $224,000 | 3% |
| 5 | Alabama Department Of Economic And Community Affairs | $223,977 | 3% |
| 6 | Missouri Department Of Natural R | $223,748 | 3% |
| 7 | Department Of Environmental Conservation Vermont | $223,232 | 3% |
| 8 | Texas Water Development Board | $220,833 | 3% |
| 9 | Arkansas Natural Resources Commission | $220,177 | 3% |
| 10 | West Virginia Department Of Environmental Protection | $219,687 | 3% |
10 of 39 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $455,906 |
| FY2025 | $103,753 |
| FY2024 | $423,235 |
| FY2023 | $300,560 |
| FY2022 | $103,777 |
| FY2021 | $581,361 |
| FY2020 | $963,611 |
| FY2019 | $529,331 |
| FY2018 | $589,906 |
| FY2017 | $2,723,974 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.981?
Assistance Listing 15.981 is Water Use and Data Research, a federal grant program run by US Geological Survey (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Water Use and Data Research?
Its CFDA number is 15.981: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.981 awarded?
71 grant awards under 15.981 have obligated $6,775,414 in federal funds to 39 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.981?
The recipients obligated the most under Water Use and Data Research are Colorado State University ($980,701), Department Of Natural Resources ($250,000) and North Dakota Department Of Water Resources ($224,000).
How much did 15.981 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.981 obligated $103,753 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.981?
No opportunity listed under 15.981 is open now. The latest, USGS Water Use Data and Research Program Announcement for Fiscal Year 2024, was posted on December 13, 2023.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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