Grants / Department of the Interior / Geological Survey

G24AS00307: Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

Closed Closed April 24, 2024 Opportunity G24AS00307 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (G27AS00066). Status: Closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left). It is in our archive of Geological Survey notices from 2024.

• Award ceiling$90,000
• Award floor$36,000
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESU’s are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (GP CESU) Program.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection awards averaged $557,251; this notice allows up to $90,000 per award.
• Most of the program's money (84% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Nebraska Water Science Center (NEWSC) is offering a funding opportunityfor test-hole drilling, geophysical well logging, and monitoring well installation along the Niobrara National Scenic River (NIOB). The NIOB is a 76-mile segment of the Niobrara River that begins near Valentine, Nebraska at Borman Bridge and follows the Niobrara River east to Mariaville, Nebraska at HWY 137 Bridge. The NIOB is known for its scenic, geologic features of the river valley, its recreational opportunities, and its abundance of fish and wildlife. These unique characteristics led to its establishment as a National Scenic River in 1991 (Roeder, 2004). Groundwater discharge from the High Plains aquifer makes up approximately 70% of the Niobrara River’s total streamflow (Shaffer, 1975; Bentall and Shaffer, 1979). Because of this, the NIOB is highly responsive to changes in groundwater levels. The High Plains Aquifer is also the primary source of irrigation water in Nebraska and has allowed Nebraska to irrigate more acres than any other state. Previous studies have indicated that the NIOB and its tributaries are highly influenced by groundwater inflow/outflow (Soenksen and others, 2010, Bentall and Schaffer, 1979); however, groundwater monitoring in the area is sparse and no efforts have been made to relate adjacent stream water levels to groundwater levels. NPS managers would like to have dedicated monitoring wells and water-level sensors installed at select locations to better understand the groundwater and surface-water interaction along the NIOB. Future monitoring will be needed to assess how changes to the system (new groundwater irrigation) are impacting groundwater levels and water quality. If impacts to the groundwater system are discovered, NPS managers will be better equipped to determine what management actions are needed to protect the NIOB. USGS is pursuing research on the subsurface characterization and assessment of groundwater and surface-water interaction along the NIOB.

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, G27AS00066, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.