Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes (15.805)
Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes (Assistance Listing 15.805) is run by the U.S. Geological Survey, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $69.1 million in 199 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $347,095 per award on average. 1 funding opportunity is open or forecast now.
The typical award was $279,000. Half of the 199 awards fell between $237,813 and $552,450, and they ranged from $38,203 to $1.7 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$69.1 million
- Grant awards199
- Typical award$279,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$8.2 million
- Size rank922 of 1824
- Type of assistanceFormula grants, project grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $11.4 million in fiscal 2021 to $8.2 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 922nd largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 61% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 54 states and territories.
What the program funds
To provide financial support to Water Resources Research Institutes located at designated State universities in each of the 50 States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia for research, information transfer and student training on one or more aspects of priority water problems.
Open opportunities
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
One University Water Research Institute is authorized in each State and other jurisdictions specified in Section 104. Other colleges and universities within a State are encouraged to participate in the program in cooperation with the designated Institute.
What the money can and cannot pay for
This program has two parts: a mandatory formula grant program and a competitive project grant program. The mandatory grant program provides the State Institutes with funds to support a State and regional program of water resources research and information transfer. This may include basic or applied research, setting up conferences to discuss research needs or results, conduct of research, information dissemination, and training of students as a byproduct of research. In general the funds are used to study regional, State, or local water problems, but the results may often have national significance. The competitive project grant program supports research focused on water problems of a regional or interstate nature and which relate to program priorities identified jointly by the State Institutes and the Geological Survey. Federal funds cannot be used for (1) formal instructional activities and general education, and (2) the cost of permanent buildings, either directly or indirectly.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title 42 U.S.C. 10303(c) and (g), Part U.S.C., Subpart 10303,Public Law (c) and (g).42 U.S.C. 10303(c) and (g)Matching requirements are 1:1 to this assistance listing.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
RFPs for Base Grants and the nationally competitive proposals have not yet been posted to Grant.gov as of June 26, 2025 pending Notice of Funding Opportunity review and approval for all four NOFOs (104b, 104g, PFAS, AIS).
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Past Fiscal Year (2024): $15,500,000: base grants in FY24 were $146,895 and competitive awards ranged to $348,000. Current Fiscal Year (2025): $15,500,000: base grants in FY25 will be $146,052 and competitive awards will range to $348,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: 54 annual base-grant awards were provided, ranging from $146,052 - $438,156 ($146,052 per state/territory).? These funds will be used to facilitate local research and communication about water resources, including more than 250 independent research projects.???? 21 competitive awards, approximately $309,000 - $348,000 each, will be awarded for research on national issues of water resources, including but not limited to aquatic invasive species (AIS) and PFAS.Fiscal Year2026: 54 annual base-grant awards were provided, ranging from $202,850 - $608,550 ($202,850 per state/territory).? These funds will be used to facilitate local research and communication about water resources, including more than 250 independent research projects.???? 13 competitive awards, approximately $102,000 - $309,000 each, will be awarded for research on national issues of water resources, including but not limited to PFAS.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes (15.805) awarded$69.1 million across 199 grant awards, an average of $347,095 per award.
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 97% of the money, nonprofits 2.1% and state and local governments 0.8%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 194 | $66.8 million | 97% |
| Nonprofits | 2 | $1.4 million | 2.1% |
| State and local governments | 1 | $519,470 | 0.8% |
| Other | 2 | $281,103 | 0.4% |
By state
31 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 6 | $4.0 million |
| Indiana | 15 | $3.7 million |
| Minnesota | 15 | $3.7 million |
| New York | 8 | $3.0 million |
| Wisconsin | 12 | $2.8 million |
| Vermont | 5 | $2.2 million |
| Illinois | 8 | $2.1 million |
| Arizona | 6 | $2.0 million |
| Texas | 5 | $2.0 million |
| Nebraska | 7 | $1.9 million |
| Guam | 1 | $1.6 million |
| New Mexico | 4 | $1.6 million |
| Oklahoma | 5 | $1.6 million |
| Virginia | 5 | $1.6 million |
| Maine | 5 | $1.5 million |
| Iowa | 6 | $1.5 million |
| Oregon | 4 | $1.4 million |
| Missouri | 5 | $1.3 million |
| California | 3 | $1.3 million |
| Idaho | 4 | $1.3 million |
| Colorado | 4 | $1.2 million |
| New Hampshire | 4 | $1.2 million |
| Tennessee | 4 | $1.1 million |
| Kansas | 3 | $1.1 million |
| Delaware | 3 | $1.1 million |
| New Jersey | 3 | $1.0 million |
| Rhode Island | 3 | $1.0 million |
| South Dakota | 3 | $1.0 million |
| Ohio | 3 | $1.0 million |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $1.0 million |
| Hawaii | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Michigan | 3 | $936,811 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $843,409 |
| Florida | 2 | $814,677 |
| South Carolina | 2 | $807,350 |
| Utah | 2 | $797,229 |
| Georgia | 2 | $794,641 |
| Connecticut | 2 | $787,396 |
| Louisiana | 2 | $753,416 |
| Mississippi | 2 | $708,596 |
| West Virginia | 2 | $703,891 |
| Montana | 2 | $683,199 |
| North Carolina | 2 | $635,076 |
| Arkansas | 2 | $572,061 |
| Washington | 1 | $545,872 |
| Maryland | 1 | $544,681 |
| Alaska | 1 | $544,513 |
| Wyoming | 1 | $541,911 |
| Alabama | 1 | $520,098 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 1 | $518,283 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $509,164 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $506,324 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $481,689 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $451,412 |