USGS Water Use Data and Research Program Announcement for Fiscal Year 2024

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The Water Availability and Use Science Program (WAUSP) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a two-year cooperative agreement opportunity to State water resource agencies that collect water-use data to participate in the Water Use Data and Research (WUDR) program. This funding opportunity is to support State Water Resource agencies in the collection and reporting of water-use data for the WUDR program, and to address the Department of Interior’s Secretarial Priorities.Legal authority for this opportunity is provided under Public Law 111-11, Subtitle F—SECURE Water: Section 9508 “National Water Availability and Use Assessment Program.” The USGS WUDR program will provide financial assistance, through cooperative agreements with State Water Resource agencies, to improve the availability, quality, compatibility, and delivery of water-use data that is collected and/or estimated by States. The Act requires that these State Water Resource agencies make water-use or availability datasets resulting from this funding opportunity available in a machine-readable open format that the USGS can integrate with appropriate datasets maintained by the USGS.The USGS National Water Use Science Project uses various scientific approaches to understand the Nation's water use. USGS has produced national estimates of the use of water since 1950, in five-year reports. These water-use estimates provide a historical and current account of how water is used for various water-use categories by applying statistical and scientific methods. This work is critical for a full understanding of the availability, quality, timing, and use of the water resources that are needed to meet the water demands of the Nation.  The WUDR cooperative agreements provide financial assistance to State Agencies to assemble various water-use information.  The water-use information is needed by all water managers and the general public to develop a complete understanding of how water is used for different categories of use (such as irrigation, or public supply). The WUDR program also supports the Department of the Interior’s Secretarial priorities by enabling water managers, primarily State Water Resource Agencies, to monitor current conditions, and be able to plan and avoid future water conflicts that may result from changes in the environment.The USGS National Water Use Science Project is operated in Water Science Centers located in all 50 States, Territories and District of Columbia. Water-use data are collected in each of these areas via collaboration with State and other Federal Agencies, Tribes, water authorities, county and local communities, corporations, academic and the private sector. The USGS builds relationships through data collection, collaborations on scientific studies, and interpretive reports via collaboration and communication between water-use scientists in USGS offices throughout the U.S.  WUDR cooperative agreements address the Department of the Interior’s Secretarial Priorities to enhance the collection, availability, quality and distribution of important water-use data, as well as improve communication between the U.S. Department of the Interior and State natural resource offices and water authorities.Examples of projects that have been previously funded are USGS Water-Use Data and Research Program.

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