Geological Survey Grants

Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in processing and analyzing of data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission. The project will advance hydrologic decision making from remotely sensed water surface elevation by making available water surface elevation data at unprecedented scales. Research Scientists in the Observing Systems Division have a wealth of knowledge specific to an ongoing study to process and analyze SWOT data for hydrological applications. This research will advance understanding through detailed assessments of SWOT data accuracy and the production of low-latency water resource monitoring data streams.This project creates a significant partnership between USGS and CESU researchers to address questions of mutual interest, such as (1) extracting water surface elevations from SWOT pixel cloud data and (2) automating the publication of water surface elevation for all resolvable waterbodies across the United States. These objectives are of considerable interest to scientists and resource managers for effective management and monitoring of water resources at the national, regional, and local scale. This project will provide opportunities to develop and expand current expertise, share expertise with federal scientists, and enhance the ability of all federal and academic partners to focus research on questions related to critical resource management decisions.This project will support the protection of life and safety by expanding the water resource monitoring network from a few thousand discrete locations to more than 1 million locations.As water resources are critical to harvest, extract, and process critical minerals and energy resources, this work aligns with:EO 14156 Declaring a National Energy Emergency (January 20, 2025)SO 3417 Addressing the National Energy Emergency (February 3, 2025)EO 14154 Unleashing American Energy (January 20, 2025)SO 3418 Unleashing American Energy (February 3, 2025)EO 14153 Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential (January 20, 2025)SO 3422 Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential (February 3, 2025)By focusing on robust uncertainty metrics in remotely sensed water surface elevation, while leveraging AI/ML capabilities, this work aligns with:EO 14303 Restoring Gold Standard Science (May 23, 2025)SO 3441 - Implementing the Requirements of Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science (August 29, 2025)WH Strategy America's AI Action Plan, July, 2025SO 3444 Leading Interior's Path to Artificial Intelligence Transformation (September 17, 2025)Further, by using a fixed cost approach with written justification and senior approval the NOFO aligns with:EO 14402, Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting (April 30, 2025)Finally, mapping water resources supports:SO 3447 Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access, Removing Unnecessary Barriers, and Ensuring Consistency Across the Depart of the Interior Lands and Waters, (January 7, 2026)SO 3442 Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior (September 4, 2025)

Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for wildlife disease molecular diagnostic testing and capacity building. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) plays a critical role in identifying causes of morbidity and mortality in wildlife through comprehensive diagnostic services. Among the vital diagnostic disciplines, parasitology has historically contributed to identifying and characterizing numerous etiologies utilizing an integrative taxonomic and molecular approach. The NWHC is currently experiencing a gap in essential parasitology services. This work proposes to strengthen parasitology capacity at NWHC to meet diagnostic and surveillance needs in support of wildlife health, national security, and public safety.By strengthening NWHC's capacity to detect, characterize, and monitor parasitic diseases in wildlife, generating high-quality reference data, and sharing results and expertise with federal, state, Tribal, and other partners, the work helps safeguard people, property, and wildlife resources while supporting safe recreation and subsistence uses of DOI lands and waters.This work aligns with EO 14239 - Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness (March 19, 2025); by strengthening state federal coordination and state preparedness for high consequence parasitic diseases through wildlife parasite surveillance and decision support. It supports SO 3421- Achieving Prosperity through Deregulation (February 3, 2025); by improving early detection, surveillance, and risk assessment for wildlife, thereby reducing the likelihood that vulnerable wildlife species will require Endangered Species Act protections and helping avoid added regulatory burdens. In addition, by conserving wildlife populations that provide substantial ecological and economic services on working lands and public lands, this work aligns with EO 14313-Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission (July 3, 2025);, which directs federal land management agencies to promote responsible stewardship of natural resources while driving economic growth and expanding access to outdoor recreation. Finally, it supports SO 3441- Implementing the Requirements of Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science (August 29, 2025); and EO 14303 - Restoring Gold Standard Science (May 23, 2025); through rigorous national surveillance, standardized diagnostics, and transparent, science-based tools for assessing and managing disease risks in wildlife.

Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in determining the effects that variations of spatial geotechnical sediment properties have on geomorphic response during storm impacts. This effort will advance capabilities to predict impacts of storms along the Nation's coastline. Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, which caused major damage ($50 65 billion) during the 2022 hurricane season, demonstrated increased stakeholder needs for data and tools to prepare for severe events. Risk models in coastal environments are needed to address multi-hazard threat sources including coastal flooding and erosion. In order to increase the security of the Nation, "We want a resilient national infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters, resist and thwart foreign threats, and prevent or mitigate any events that might harm the American people or disrupt the American economy", [National Security Strategy of the United States of America, Nov. 2025, page 3; 2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf]. Predictions of these impacts require the concurrent simulation of ocean currents, water levels, wave groups, and coastal geomorphological evolution. It has been shown that coastal geotechnical variability can have a profound effect on the geomorphic response during extreme storm events, either enhancing or hindering the onset of barrier island breaching that can increase inland flooding. Geotechnical factors such as sediment porosity, grain size, and critical erosion stress can alter the beach response during conditions ranging from calm, moderate, to high intensity impacts. The USGS seeks a partner for research to advance a coupled ocean-wave-sediment modeling system for predictions of geomorphic change due to variation in geotechnical sediment properties. Results will produce coastal science that supports storm and emergency preparedness for management of existing or proposed engineering, infrastructure, and coastal protection systems. This project aligns with EO 14154 - Unleashing American Energy (January 20, 2025) and SO 3418 - Unleashing American Energy (February 3, 2025). Generation of domestic energy resources, including, but not limited to, on Federal lands requires knowledge of coastal processes, ocean currents, waves, and ocean sea floor characterization. Security of the nation's critical energy resources is required to prevent impacts from severe storms, necessitating the need to better understand how storms can impede the development of energy resources. This project also aligns with EO 14156 - Declaring a National Energy Emergency (January 20, 2025) and SO 3417 - Addressing the National Energy Emergency (February 3, 2025) The country requires reliable, diversified, and affordable supply of energy to drive the Nation's manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and defense industries, and to sustain the basics of modern life and military preparedness. This necessitates the integrity and expansion of the Nation's energy infrastructure-from coast to coast, and identify potential threats to the acquisition and distribution of critical resources near the coast. Finally, this project is funded through the Congressional Authority Disaster Supplemental from Hurricane Ian (Public Law 117-328) to improve data and tools to assist stakeholders in preparing for severe events.

Geological Survey

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center (NRCASC) competitive research award to a CESU partner.Projects supported under this cooperative agreement should advance Administration priorities, including, but not limited to, American energy dominance, critical mineral development, water security, infrastructure resilience, and natural hazard preparedness. Research and activities may incorporate scientific expertise in areas such as hydrology, geology, geospatial science, biosecurity, and near-earth space science, including extreme events such as drought, flooding, wildland fire, coastal erosion, severe storms, and geologic hazards, to develop actionable science, data, and tools that support informed decision-making by resource managers and stakeholders.The NRCASC program provides rigorous science and transparent communication) (EO 14303- Restoring Gold Standard Science (May 23, 2025)/SO 3441-Implementing the Requirements of Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science, May 23, 2025 (August 29, 2025) that advances administration and departmental priorities on wildfire science, (EO 14308- Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response (June 12, 2025)/SO 3443-Elevating and Unifying DOI's Wildland Fire Management Program (September 10, 2025), hazard and risk assessments that enhance local preparedness (EO 14239- Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness (March 18, 2025), the development of Alaska's resource potential (EO 14153- Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential (January 20, 2025)/SO 3422- Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential (February 3, 2025), American energy potential EO 14154- Unleashing American Energy (January 20, 2025)/SO 3418-Unleashing American Energy (February 3, 2025)/SO 3417-Addressing the National Energy Emergency (February 3, 2025)/SO 3438-Managing Federal Energy Resources and Protecting the Environment (August 1, 2025), the strategic use of Artificial Intelligence SO 3444-Leading Interior's Path to Artificial Intelligence Transformation (September 17, 2025), and natural resource stewardship that balances the needs of ecosystems, communities, and the economy (EO 14313-Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission (July 3, 2025), EO 14225-Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production (March 1, 2025).In Alaska's boreal forests, spruce beetle outbreaks have expanded northward with changing temperatures, often resulting in extensive mortality in spruce forests. These widespread mortality events create opportunities for invasive plants, such as the European bird cherry, to invade and reshape the forest. This project will investigate how spruce beetle disturbances influence the establishment and spread of invasive European bird cherry; how invasion subsequently affects the regeneration of spruce and other native plants following beetle outbreaks; and how changing temperatures, drought, and other weather events alter the interaction between disturbance and invasion in boreal forest ecosystems. Project outcomes will inform management decisions made by partners, including the U.S. Forest Service and the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, to control invasive species and promote forest recovery after disturbances. This work will support the implementation of EO 14313 -Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission (July 3, 2025) through science-based conservation of natural resources and strengthening the capacity of agencies and communities to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems from biological degradation.

Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in developing multi-month forecasts of management-relevant rangeland drought forecasts and improve a platform for delivering those forecasts to resource managers across western rangelands.Research Objectives:Wildfire and invasive species are transforming dryland ecosystems of the western U.S., particularly across the vast western rangelands. Restoration treatments are much more likely to succeed if applied when conditions are favorable. This project will pursue two goals: 1) The project will develop gridded ecological drought forecasts to help rangeland managers target restoration investments in places and times where plant establishment is likely. Currently, the drought forecaster operates for a user-defined point. This work will generate wall-to-wall, monthly, weather and soil moisture forecasts using "real time" weather forecast data from the National Weather Service, which are updated each month. These rapid, real-time broad geographic assessments of regeneration potential will help inform resource allocation for management agencies. Using these wall-to-wall simulations, this project will produce continuously-updated forecast maps of near-term soil drought and seed establishment probabilities for the western US. 2) This project will synthesize establishment requirements for critical restoration species so managers know when and where species are likely to successfully establish.Deliverables from this project include synthesized information about related peer-reviewed publications about the establishment requirements (notably soil moisture conditions) for critical restoration species and continuously updated forecast maps of near-term ecological drought and establishment probabilities for the western US. These forecasts are currently used to target seeding for dryland restoration in locations and at times when conditions are most likely to support plant establishment and other applications are being developed. This project advances administration and departmental priorities using the following EOs, SOs: Improving wildfire management and post-fire habitat restoration: EO 14308 - Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response (June 12, 2025) EO 13855 - Promoting Active Management of America's Forests, Rangelands, and Other Federal Lands To Improve Conditions and Reduce Wildfire Risk (December 21, 2018)SO 3372 - Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land Through Active Management (January 2, 2019) SO 3362 - Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors (February 9, 2018).Promoting sustainable energy and critical mineral development: SO 3438 - Managing Federal Energy Resources and Protecting the Environment (August 1, 2025) SO 3436 - Unlocking Critical and Strategic Minerals from Mine Waste, Cutting Red Tape, and Restoring American Dominance in Strategic Mineral Production (July 23,2025). Using science to inform local and regional management decisions to strengthen preparedness, protect economies, and safeguard communities: EO 14239 - Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness (March 18, 2025) EO 14303 - Restoring Gold Standard Science (May 24, 2025) SO 3441 - Implementing the Requirements of Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science, May 23, 2025 (August 29, 2025)SO 3443 - Elevating and Unifying DOI's Wildland Fire Management Program, (September 10, 2025).

Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Western Fisheries Research Center in partnership with the Grand Canyon Science Center and Wetland and Aquatic Research Center solicits technical assistance from a CESU partner to: a) integrate a novel road network model into an existing invasive quagga and zebra mussel risk assessment model for Washington State; and b) expand that model to establish a standardized risk assessment for golden mussels in California. This new optimization framework will be designed to identify ideal locations for mitigation interventions like watercraft inspection and decontamination (WID) stations and "clean-drain-dry" information campaigns. This work will leverage a collaborative multi-year effort that developed standardized risk assessment models in the Missouri and Columbia river basins (Raymond et al. 2024 and 2026). This risk-based approach is being done as part of a call to action by state and federal resource managers in Washington State and California. USGS staff will provide model development guidance, assist with gathering needed datasets, and will help facilitate relationships with state and federal resource management partners. This work supports the President's Executive Order 14154 Unleashing American Energy (January 20, 2025 and adjoining Interior Secretarial Order 3418 -Unleashing American Energy (February 3, 2025) as well as Executive Order 14156 - Declaring a National Energy Emergency (January 20, 2025) by protecting numerous hydro-electric facilities and ensuring reliable energy is readily accessible. It protects new water delivery infrastructure investments associated with Executive Order 14181 - Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas (January 24, 2025). It also ensures that the "Gold Standard of Science" (Executive Order 14303- Restoring Gold Standard Science (May 23, 2025) is being applied to issues of significant economic, safety, and security importance to the nation.

Geological Survey

Water Resource Research Act (WRRA) coordination award to support efforts toward water resources research.

Geological Survey

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) Cooperative Agreement ProgramLTRMP is a monitoring effort with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and five Upper Mississippi River System states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin).

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Long Term Resource Monitoring (LTRM) Element Cooperative Agreement Program. LTRM is the monitoring and research element of the UMRR Program, managed by the U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) and implemented by the five Upper Mississippi River System states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin). Overall guidance, funding, and Program responsibility is provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers(USACE). A directive outlining the mode of operation and the respective roles of each agency is embodied in a 1988 Memorandum of Agreement.

Geological Survey

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) Cooperative Agreement ProgramLTRMP is a monitoring effort with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and five Upper Mississippi River System states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin).

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) Cooperative Agreement Program LTRMP is a monitoring effort with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and five Upper Mississippi River System states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin).

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Cooperative Research Units were established with a trifold mission, a mission that is codified in the program s authorizing legislation and that has remained unchanged through time: Education - Provide advance training in fish, wildlife, and natural resource sciences, assuring a continuing supply of quality natural resource professionals for state and federal agencies. Research Provide federal and state agencies access to the expertise, and facilities at leading universities around the country, to address the natural resource information needs expressed by Unit cooperators and partners. Technical Assistance - Provide technical assistance in the understanding and use of science and research findings, to State and Federal personnel and other natural resource managers.

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) Cooperative Agreement Program LTRMP is a monitoring effort with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and five Upper Mississippi River System states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin).

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geological Survey

The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government and a non-profit organization. The program is comprised of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units on university campuses in 38 states. Since the original nine Units were established in the 1930s, additional Units were established by Congress at specified universities. The 40 units in the program are jointly supported by the US Geological Survey, Host Universities, State Natural Resource Agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.