Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
🏛 Geological Survey (DOI-USGS1)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 30, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for CESU (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units) partners conducting water resource research. Only organizations that are participating members of the Rocky Mountain CESU can apply. This program supports research in processing, analyzing, and monitoring water surface elevation data from the SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) mission.
Eligible partners include universities, tribal nations, state/local government agencies, and nonprofits affiliated with the Rocky Mountain CESU network. The grant funds hydrologic research that advances national water resource management and monitoring capabilities. Projects must align with USGS research priorities and involve collaboration between academic and federal scientists.
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Program description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in processing and analyzing of data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission. The project will advance hydrologic decision making from remotely sensed water surface elevation by making available water surface elevation data at unprecedented scales. Research Scientists in the Observing Systems Division have a wealth of knowledge specific to an ongoing study to process and analyze SWOT data for hydrological applications. This research will advance understanding through detailed assessments of SWOT data accuracy and the production of low-latency water resource monitoring data streams.This project creates a significant partnership between USGS and CESU researchers to address questions of mutual interest, such as (1) extracting water surface elevations from SWOT pixel cloud data and (2) automating the publication of water surface elevation for all resolvable waterbodies across the United States. These objectives are of considerable interest to scientists and resource managers for effective management and monitoring of water resources at the national, regional, and local scale. This project will provide opportunities to develop and expand current expertise, share expertise with federal scientists, and enhance the ability of all federal and academic partners to focus research on questions related to critical resource management decisions.This project will support the protection of life and safety by expanding the water resource monitoring network from a few thousand discrete locations to more than 1 million locations.As water resources are critical to harvest, extract, and process critical minerals and energy resources, this work aligns with:EO 14156 Declaring a National Energy Emergency (January 20, 2025)SO 3417 Addressing the National Energy Emergency (February 3, 2025)EO 14154 Unleashing American Energy (January 20, 2025)SO 3418 Unleashing American Energy (February 3, 2025)EO 14153 Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential (January 20, 2025)SO 3422 Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential (February 3, 2025)By focusing on robust uncertainty metrics in remotely sensed water surface elevation, while leveraging AI/ML capabilities, this work aligns with:EO 14303 Restoring Gold Standard Science (May 23, 2025)SO 3441 – Implementing the Requirements of Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science (August 29, 2025)WH Strategy America’s AI Action Plan, July, 2025SO 3444 Leading Interior’s Path to Artificial Intelligence Transformation (September 17, 2025)Further, by using a fixed cost approach with written justification and senior approval the NOFO aligns with:EO 14402, Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting (April 30, 2025)Finally, mapping water resources supports:SO 3447 Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access, Removing Unnecessary Barriers, and Ensuring Consistency Across the Depart of the Interior Lands and Waters, (January 7, 2026)SO 3442 Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior (September 4, 2025)
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Project Work Plan
- Documentation of Rocky Mountain CESU partner status
- Letters of commitment from USGS collaborators
Program contact
- 👤 Geological Survey
- 📧 katherine_calder@ios.doi.gov
- 📞 916-278-9331
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.808 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$240,000,000
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$11,148,115
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$10,533,234
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$10,055,533
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$8,476,627
-
$8,454,102
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$7,659,261
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$6,894,612
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$6,800,079
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$6,644,228
Top States by Funding
- CO 5 awards $245.6M
- CA 21 awards $72.1M
- AK 14 awards $33.7M
- FL 6 awards $22.8M
- WA 4 awards $16.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only participating partners of the Rocky Mountain CESU program are eligible. You must have an existing affiliation with the CESU network to apply.
What is the funding range?
Award amounts range from $1 to $300,000. Total program funding is $300,000 for all awards.
Is cost-sharing required?
No, cost-sharing is not required for this opportunity.
What research topics are supported?
The grant funds SWOT mission data processing and analysis, water surface elevation extraction, and water resource monitoring data systems. Projects must support hydrologic decision-making and resource management at national, regional, or local scales.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is August 29, 2026 (fixed deadline, not rolling).
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your organization is a current Rocky Mountain CESU partner before investing application effort. Non-members cannot apply.
- Emphasize how your project advances water resource monitoring from the SWOT mission. Use concrete examples of how data serves management decisions.
- Build partnerships with USGS Observing Systems Division scientists early. The program prioritizes collaborations between academic and federal researchers.
- Focus on scalability and national relevance. Highlight how your work expands water monitoring beyond the current network of discrete locations.
- Align your project with USGS research priorities. Show connections to water resource management, critical mineral/energy access, or federal science goals.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants from non-CESU organizations waste effort applying when they lack the required partner status. Proposals that focus narrowly on academic research without clear water management applications underperform. Projects failing to demonstrate collaboration with USGS scientists or alignment with federal science priorities are less competitive.
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