The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 104g opportunity is a national, competitive grants program; it differs in important ways from the long-running state-based 104b.

This call is for research on improving and enhancing the nation’s water supply and availability and promoting the exploration of new ideas that address or expand our understanding of water problems, including the following priorities:

• Economic value of Information of the USGS streamgage network and associated National Water Information  System (NWIS). Applicants should review the National Hydrologic Warning Council 2006 report for a listing of benefits categories. For this proposal, USGS is most interested in categories (1) through (3) in the 2006 report; categories (4) and (5) are of significant but lesser interest. USGS appreciates that proposals may seek a tradeoff between examining multiple benefit categories at a reduced geographic scale versus a limited number of benefits categories at a national scale. While preference will be given to those proposals that provide a Nation-wide assessment, please consider the minimum geographic scope to be Hydrologic Unit Code 12 (Hydrologic Unit Maps | U.S. Geological Survey).
  
  Model Advancement and Machine Learning Integration. Explore methods to develop new hydrologic models in large, regional areas or, where possible, at the national level to enhance understanding of water availability. Provide information on promising modeling approaches to inform science questions specific to a region.

Proposals may be for up to $310,000 for one to three years of work with an anticipated start date of February 1, 2026. All proposals require one-to-one matching with non-federal funds. Proposals involving substantial collaboration between the USGS and university scientists are encouraged.

Any investigator at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States is eligible to apply but must apply to a Water Research Institute or Center established under the provisions of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended, including researchers at the University of Vermont.

Proposals are due by September 30, 2025. If you are external to the University of Vermont, please let the Vermont Water Center know as soon as possible if you plan to apply for one of these opportunities and work with Gretchen Nareff (gretchen.nareff@uvm.edu) to complete your application package. If you are a University of Vermont affiliate, please work with the Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) and the Vermont Water Center to complete your application. 

Resources

• USGS FY2026 104g Opportunity
• USGS Water Resources Research Act Program
• Instructional webinar recording (MP4) and presentation slides (PDF) from March 9, 2023 workshop on proposal preparation guidance

The challenges and opportunities of understanding the effects of per-and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances on water resources are poorly understood, despite the real and growing effect of this group of man-made substances on water quality and the resultant exposure to humans, other organisms, and ecosystems. Research is needed to better understand these interactions and guide management decisions that will improve water resources at the regional or national scale. Proposals are sought on the following specific areas of inquiry (levels of priority are not assigned, and the order of listing does not indicate the level of priority):

• Media-specific methods: Enhanced methods for detection on specific media, with a clear indication of new or different compounds, new or different methodological approaches (such as non-target analysis (NTA) or suspect screening, proxies, surrogates), lower detection levels for specific media or compounds, especially with respect to EPA health guidelines for PFOA
  (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) and PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate). Media of interest include (in ranked order) (1) Tissues/plasma, (2) sediment, (3) air or interfaces, (4) water.
• Atmospheric sources: Improved understanding of atmospheric exchange in PFAS distribution and fate. This may include methods to determine transport of PFAS to the atmosphere and to subsequent receiving waters, such as a water method that determines "new" compounds based on their likelihood to occur in the atmosphere.
• Processes oriented at molecular level, physical or biological: Process-oriented research of PFAS fate, transport, and effects, with emphasis on molecular-level understanding of PFAS precursor transformation, sorption dynamics, or process-oriented research of mechanisms of PFAS bioaccumulation and(or) biological/ecological effects, or biodegradation of PFAS along source to receptor pathways and identification of mitigation methods and engage modeling and forecasting processes for prediction, prevention, and mitigation of environmental risk of exposure to PFAS in ecosystems and human population.

Proposals may be for up to $309,000 for one to three years of work, and they require one-to-one matching with non-federal funds. Proposals involving substantial collaboration between the USGS and university scientists are encouraged.

Any investigator at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States is eligible to apply but must apply to a Water Research Institute or Center established under the provisions of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended, including the University of Vermont.

Proposals are due by September 30, 2025. If you are external to the University of Vermont, please let the Vermont Water Center know as soon as possible if you plan to apply for one of these opportunities and work with Gretchen Nareff (gretchen.nareff@uvm.edu) to complete your application package. If you are a University of Vermont affiliate, please work with the Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) and the Vermont Water Center to complete your application. 

Resources

• Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Substances Competitive Grants FY 2026 Opportunity
• Instructional webinar recording (MP4) and presentation slides (PDF) from March 9, 2023 workshop on proposal preparation guidance.

The challenges and opportunities that link aquatic invasive species and water resources are poorly understood, despite the real and growing effect of numerous aquatic invasive species on water quality, water quantity, and aquatic ecosystems. Research is needed to better identify and understand these interactions and to guide management decisions that will help to improve
invasive species management and thus reduce effects of invasive species on water resources and aquatic ecosystems at local, regional, and national scales. Proposals are sought on the following specific areas of inquiry (levels of priority are not assigned, and the order of listing does not indicate the level of priority):

• Effects: Research that improves our understanding of the effects of aquatic invasive species on lakes, rivers, and associated tributaries in the upper Mississippi River basin, including changes to water quantity, water quality, and ecosystem dynamics.
• Characteristics: Research that identifies physical, biological, and chemical characteristics of water bodies that infer resistance and resilience to the distribution, establishment, and effects of aquatic invasive species in the upper Mississippi River basin. Research is needed to better understand these interactions to guide management decisions that will improve invasive species management and result in positive effects on aquatic ecosystems.
• Management: Research on assessment of the detection, spread, and management of aquatic invasive species in the upper Mississippi River basin and the connections to human dimensions, both socially and economically. Note that this does not include
  physical control of AIS.

Note: Any Institute can apply to this proposal if they meet the requirements. However, the project work must be done within the geographic bounds of the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

Proposals may be for up to $346,875 for one to three years of work, and they require one-to-one matching with non-federal funds. Proposals involving substantial collaboration between the USGS and university scientists are encouraged.

Any investigator at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States is eligible to apply but must apply to a Water Research Institute or Center established under the provisions of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended, including the University of Vermont.

Proposals are due by September 30, 2025. If you are external to the University of Vermont, please let the Vermont Water Center know as soon as possible if you plan to apply for one of these opportunities and work with Gretchen Nareff (gretchen.nareff@uvm.edu) to complete your application package. If you are a University of Vermont affiliate, please work with the Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) and the Vermont Water Center to complete your application. 

Resources

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Competitive Grants FY 2026 Opportunity

We are pleased to announce the FY 2025 Request for Proposals.

The Vermont Water Resources and Lake Studies Center welcomes graduate student research and faculty research proposals focusing on critical water resources science and management needs in Vermont, including the Connecticut River basin and the Lake Champlain basin, from investigators based at an institute of higher education in Vermont. The Vermont Water Center especially welcomes proposals from professionals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color and from early-career professionals.

The 104b program will consider proposals to support research, outreach, education, training, and other information-transfer activities focused on physical, biological, chemical, social (equity), or engineering aspects of water quality or quantity. Water equity research examines the causes and impacts of water-related disparities, develops or evaluates tools or strategies to improve water equity, or provides scientific information to benefit underserved communities. All proposals should justify project plans based on current needs, as documented in national, regional, and especially state science and technology overviews, and they should describe how results will be disseminated to water managers and the public, inclusive of economically disadvantaged and diverse populations. Proposals that address issues in historically marginalized or underserved communities are highly encouraged.

Projects are supported on an annual basis, with the possibility of adding subsequent years on an annual basis.

Please note that the total funding and the official start date for awards are both dependent on Congressional and federal actions. However, we expect the funding to be available this year for the project year September 1, 2025–August 31, 2026.

Friday, December 6, 2024: Deadline to send intent to submit proposals by emailing the Vermont Water Center (vwrlsc@uvm.edu).

Monday, February 3, 2025: Deadline for proposal submission to the Vermont Water Center (vwrlsc@uvm.edu).

Download the budget forms (XLSX) and the budget justification form (DOCX). Contact gretchen.nareff@uvm.edu with questions.