Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G24AS00354

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a US Geological Survey (USGS) Water Mission Area discretionary financial assistance opportunity supporting research connected to Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs).

What is the main purpose of the award?

The core purpose is to improve how water availability is assessed for both human uses and ecological needs, while also clarifying what factors drive changes in availability and what those changes could mean in the future for different users and uses.

What kinds of research topics are emphasized?

The opportunity emphasizes work that goes beyond physical hydrology by integrating hydrologic and climate processes with socioeconomic conditions, policy choices, and governance structures. A central theme is irrigated agriculture, with a strong focus on hydro-economic analysis of agricultural water use.

How does this opportunity define “Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs)” in practice?

Based on the description provided, IWAAs are framed as assessments that link water availability for people and ecosystems with the drivers of change (including climate uncertainty and human decision systems) and evaluate implications for future conditions and competing uses.

Why is irrigated agriculture a central theme?

The opportunity highlights irrigated agriculture because irrigation allocation and use decisions can shape local communities and the broader regional food system. The intent is to better understand water supply tradeoffs where climate uncertainty, economic pressures, and institutional rules are tightly linked.

What does “hydro-economic analysis” mean in the context of this award?

Here, hydro-economic analysis refers to interpreting agricultural water use through economic and social lenses, not only calculating water totals. It includes examining incentives and constraints (such as price signals, costs/revenues, and market forces), along with rules and institutions (such as water rights, regulations, and allocation rules), and connecting those factors to hydrologic conditions and climate scenarios.

Is the USGS looking for basic water-use totals and accounting?

The description indicates the intent is not simply to calculate water use totals. Instead, the focus is on understanding why water is used the way it is, how decisions are made, and what consequences follow when supply conditions or governing rules change.

What human-system factors does the opportunity want integrated into water availability work?

The opportunity explicitly calls for stronger integration of socioeconomic conditions, policy choices, and governance structures with hydrologic and climate processes. It also emphasizes economic incentives and socioeconomic outcomes.

What governance elements are specifically mentioned?

Governance elements mentioned include institutional constraints and allocation rules, as well as water rights and regulations.

What economic elements are specifically mentioned?

Economic elements mentioned include price signals, costs, revenues, market forces, incentives and constraints shaping allocation and use decisions, and links to cropping decisions and technology adoption.

What socioeconomic outcomes are specifically mentioned?

Examples listed include impacts to farm labor, rural economies, household well-being, and food supply chains, along with community vulnerability.

How does climate and hydrology fit into the requested work?

The work is expected to connect socioeconomic and governance factors with hydrologic and climate processes, including drought, shifting runoff timing, groundwater conditions, and climate scenarios.

What is meant by “extending traditional water-use modeling capabilities”?

Many water-use models estimate withdrawals or consumptive use but omit or simplify human systems. This opportunity calls for expanding modeling approaches so they better capture governance, economic incentives, and socioeconomic outcomes, linking watershed/aquifer dynamics to farms, communities, and policy decisions, especially under future scenarios.

What types of tools or models does the opportunity want to develop or enhance?

The direction described is to develop or enhance tools that can connect “what happens in the watershed and aquifer” with “what happens in farms, communities, and policy decisions,” particularly under future scenarios and uncertainty.

How is this award administered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

Administratively, it is issued as a cooperative agreement. The description notes this typically means USGS is likely to have substantial involvement in the project compared to a standard grant.

What framework is this opportunity released under?

It is released under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) framework, which is designed to facilitate research, technical assistance, and education partnerships.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are official partners in the Californian CESU Program. Applicants must already be affiliated through that CESU network to apply.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is G24AS00354.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The agency is the US Geological Survey (USGS).

What is the CFDA (program listing) number associated with this opportunity?

The program listing (CFDA) is 15.808.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?

The announced award ceiling is $400,000.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on April 29, 2024.

What was the closing date?

The original closing date was June 21, 2024.

What kinds of decision support is USGS aiming to enable?

The described goal is to help decisionmakers understand water supply tradeoffs in settings where climate uncertainty, economic pressures, and institutional rules interact, producing assessments that better reflect real-world decision environments and are more actionable for planning and policy.

Does the opportunity address both human and ecological water needs?

Yes. The purpose explicitly includes improving how water availability is assessed for both human uses and ecological needs.

Does the opportunity focus on future conditions and scenarios?

Yes. It calls for clarifying what changes in availability could mean in the future and emphasizes linking human and hydrologic systems under future scenarios, including climate scenarios.