Western Water Institutional Solutions: Identification, Development, and Application of Institutional Solutions for Western Water Problems

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The Bureau of Reclamation seeks to enhance its institutional capacity in the area of water conflict management. Basically, an institution can enhance its capacity to manage and transform conflict if mechanisms are developed to monitor, prevent, and, if need be, resolve disputes as they arise. These mechanisms should address conflict at the interpersonal, intra-agency, inter-agency, and inter-stakeholder levels. From the interpersonal to the agency-wide scales, capacity can be defined by:1. Interpersonal and interagency capacity for conflict management;2. Capacity of the institution for proactive monitoring and planning for change;3. Capacity to resolve unforeseen conflicts;4. Agency-wide incentives for conflict management and prevention. Please Note:Please Note: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) are mechanisms for cost-effective collaboration and cooperation between Federal agencies, universities , and other organizations. CESUs are used for development and dissemination of scientific and technical information pertaining to the environment and resource management that can be used by Federal agencies and other resource managers. There are several CESUs throught the United States that serve various regions of the country. CESUs provide high-quality scientific research for the public, technical assistance, and education that is region-specific, and create partnerships between Federal agencies and universities that share resoureces and expertise in that geographic region. Other objectives are to encourage professional development of Federal scientists and to manage Federal science resources efficiently and cost effectively. CESUs provide a means to apply local expertise to local problems. CESUs include a mechanism for managers of the participating agencies to provide advice and guidance on science priorities and CESU activities while maintaining the independence and objectivity of research projects. To become a member of CESU, a Federal agency must enter into a master cooperative agreement with a regional CESU and pay for a share of the administrative expenses incurred by the CESU. By entering into a cooperative agreement with a regional CESU member organization for a specific project, Reclamation receives a substantial reduction in the amount of indirect costs that the recipient organization would normally be entitled to recover during performance of the agreement. In return, Reclamation agrees to utilize standard terms and conditions in any resulting agreements. Procurement contracts and grants shall not be awarded under a CESU agreement. CESU agreements are like any other financial assistance project in that the project to be performed must be authorized under a specific authority that permits that type of work to be accomplished under the award. If the statutory authority for the project is discretionary, then the project must be annouced in accordance with standard Grants.gov procedures for announcing discretionary funding opportunities. The FOA shall not limit or contain language limiting applictions to only CESU member organizations. The FOA shall contain the following statement: "This funding opportunity announcement is based on a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)Program, but in no way restricts competition to a CESU partner" Further information on CESUs may be obtained from the CESU Program website, or by contacting the Denver Research and Development Office, Research Program Coordinator, 86-69000, or a local CESU Coordinator. Contact the Denver Research and Development Office for further information regarding regional CESU Coordinators.

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