# Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/g25as00344-cooperative-agreement-for-affiliated-partner-with-the/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/360347

> Geological Survey offered grants of up to $495,000 (at least $1) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make $495,000 in total. Applications closed on September 22, 2025.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | G25AS00344 |
| Agency | Geological Survey |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | September 22, 2025 |
| Award ceiling | $495,000 |
| Award floor | $1 |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | $495,000 |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 15.808 |

## Who can apply

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

This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program. CESUs are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

## What the grant funds

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research and evaluation of Open Evapotranspiration (OpenET) capabilities to enhance the validation, application, and integration of remote sensing ET data products for hydrological and agricultural assessments in the southeastern United States. This research will provide an independent evaluation of OpenET"s accuracy across diverse land-use conditions as well as for estimating irrigation demand critical for improving water allocation and drought response strategies. In coordination with the USGS, objectives will support integration of OpenET into drought and water resource management frameworks to provide actionable insights for decision-makers and the development of more resilient and data-driven approaches for water sustainability in the Southeast. Research Objectives:Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of satellite-based OpenET data in the southeastern U.S. through model intercomparison, in situ validation, and uncertainty analysis with respect to cloud-affected conditions. Assess OpenET"s potential for real-time irrigation monitoring by comparing its ET estimates with soil water balance-derived ET and modeled irrigation demand. Improve drought monitoring capabilities by integrating OpenET into high-resolution Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) calculations and effective precipitation metrics. Develop applied science tools, including high-resolution irrigation maps and enhanced flash drought detection methods using OpenET.Establish regional stakeholder capacity and expand data-sharing efforts by incorporating OpenET into state and Southeast Drought Early Warning System (SE DEWS) drought monitoring and facilitating collaboration on irrigation and crop data.

## Questions people ask

### Is G25AS00344 still open?

No. It closed on September 22, 2025. A newer notice is open: G27AS00066, closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left).

### Who can apply for Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)?

Geological Survey accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)?

Closed September 22, 2025. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $495,000 each. About $495,000 in total.

### Who has won U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines, University of Alaska Fairbanks, California Institute of Technology. The program made 1,128 awards worth $629 million in that time.