State Water Resources Institute Program

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

USGS FS-093-02September 2002

The Nation’s water resources and itswater problems vary greatly across itsbroad and diverse landscape. Managementof the Nation’s water resources requiresknowledge of local water resources and in-stitutions, as well as the integration ofknowledge from many different scientificdisciplines, both in the natural and the so-cial sciences. It also requires collaborativeefforts of local and stategovernments and the fed-eral government. TheState Water ResourcesResearch Institute Pro-gram brings an interdis-ciplinary, collaborativeapproach to addressingthe Nation’s water prob-lems at the state, local,and national level. Theprogram is a partnershipbetween the U.S. Geo-logical Survey and desig-nated universities in all50 states, the District ofColumbia, the U.S. Vir-gin Islands, Puerto Rico,and Guam.

ernment, the federal government, and in theprivate sector. The Institutes are an impor-tant part of the Nation’s water resources re-search, education, and technology transferinfrastructure.

A COST-SHARED PROGRAMThe Water Resources Research Act pro-

vides for funding of the Institutes throughtwo cost-sharing pro-grams. The first is a grantof equal size to each Insti-tute to support a programof research, education, andinformation transfer. TheInstitute must match eachdollar received under thisgrant with two dollarsfrom non-Federal sources.Research projects sup-ported under these grantsaddress state priorities andare to be selected in state-wide competitions.

A national competi-tive research grant pro-gram authorized by theAct is the second means of

The Water Resources Research Institutes authorized by theWater Resources Research Act (42 USC 10301 et seq.) are to:

• “plan, conduct, or otherwise arrange for competent research that fosters(A) the entry of new research scientists into the water resources fields,(B) the training and education of future water scientists, engineers, andtechnicians, (C) the preliminary exploration of new ideas that addresswater problems or expand understanding of water and water-relatedphenomena, and (D) the dissemination of research results to water manag-ers and the public, and

• “cooperate closely with other colleges and universities in the State thathave demonstrated capabilities for research, information dissemination,and graduate training in order to develop a statewide program designed toresolve State and regional water and related land problems.”

• “cooperate closely with other institutes and other organizations in theregion to increase the effectiveness of the institutes and for the purpose ofpromoting regional coordination.”

University ofPuerto Rico

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University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Alaska- Fairbanksn

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AuburnUniversity

Rutgers University

Iowa StateUniversity

University ofNebraska

Universityof Missouri

University of Maryland

University ofKentucky

University of Delaware

University of Arkansas

Universityof Tennessee

Oregon State University

Kansas StateUniversity

Texas A&MUniversity

Montana StateUniversity

University ofWyoming

OklahomaState University

Ohio StateUniversity

DesertResearchInstitute

ColoradoState University

University ofArizona

University ofRhode Island

Washington StateUniversity

New MexicoState University

University ofNew Hampshire

South DakotaState University

North DakotaState University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

University ofMassachusetts

University ofConnecticut

University of the District of Columbia

University of Maine

University of Vermont

University of California

University ofIdaho

Utah StateUniversity

University ofMinnesota University of

Wisconsin-Madison

Louisiana StateUniversity

Universityof Illinois Purdue

University

Mississippi StateUniversity

Universityof Florida

Georgia Institute of Technology

MichiganStateUniversity

PennsylvaniaStateUniversity

ClemsonUniversity

North CarolinaState University

West Virginia University

CornellUniversity

Water Resources Research Institute Network

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Most of the Institutes are located atland-grant universities, where they cooper-ate with and draw upon the full range oftheir State’s universities’ resources in allacademic disciplines and upon their exten-sion networks. The institutes have estab-lished themselves as a primary link be-tween water-related personnel in the aca-demic community, in local and state gov-

National Institutes for Water Resources in Cooperation with U. S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

USGS Fact Sheet FS-093-02September 2002

providing funding to the Institutes. Thesegrants are to support research on waterproblems and issues of a regional or inter-state nature and address specific prioritytopics identified jointly by the USGS andthe institutes. The research projects con-

ducted under this National Competi-tive Grant Program are selected in anational competition. Projects in-volving collaboration with the USGSare given preference in the selectionprocess. The institutes must matcheach federal dollar received underthese grants with one dollar fromnon-federal sources.

THE PROGRAMS OF THE WATERRESOURCES RESEARCHINSTITUTES

Each Institute maintains a pro-gram of research, education, and in-formation transfer designed in con-sultation with a local advisory panel.The advisory panels consists of lo-cal, state, and federal officials, repre-sentatives of water user groups, and

members of the interested public. Thesepanels develop research and program pri-orities and review the allocation of fundsamong various competing projects. In thisway, the Institutes ensure that limitedfunds are spent on research and infor-mation needs that address the mostpressing water problems and issues intheir states.

Research

Each year, the Institutes supportover 200 research and informationtransfer projects with their federalgrants and matching funds. Descrip-tions of these projects are provided athttp://water.usgs.gov/wrri/projects.html.The Institutes support an additional 700projects funded by local, state, and federalagencies and other organizations.

Education

The Institutes annually provide sup-port and training to nearly 700 studentsengaged in the research and informationtransfer projects funded under the WaterResources Research Act. The Institutessupport an additional 600 students underprojects funded by other sources. Thesestudents range from undergraduate stu-dents to post-doctoral students. The StateWater Resources Research Institute pro-gram is an important source of training forthe future scientists, engineers, and techni-cians necessary to meet the many federal

The National Institutes for WaterResources

The 54 Water Resources ResearchInstitutes are organized as the NationalInstitutes for Water Resources. NIWR:

• Provides a mechanism for the ex-change of information among theInstitutes.

• Facilitates consultation and collabo-ration between the Institutes andfederal, state and local water-relatedagencies, water user associations,and others involved in planning,financing, implementing, coordinat-ing, and conducting water resourcesactivities.

• Advises and assists the USGS inplanning, implementing, coordinat-ing, and conducting the InstituteProgram.

• Assists the USGS in identifyingneeded state, regional, and nationalwater-related research.

• Disseminates information and trans-ferring water-related technology.

Cooperators from the USGS, Massachusetts Depart-ment of Environmental Management, the University ofMassachusetts Water Resources Research Center, andMassachusetts Water Watch Partnership Volunteersdiscuss lake water quality monitoring techniques.

For more information, contact:John Schefter, Program CoordinatorU.S. Geological Survey424 National Center, Reston, VA 20192(703) 648-6800schefter@usgs.govhttp://water.usgs.gov/wrri/

and state mandates pertaining to water re-sources management, such as the CleanWater Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Information Transfer

The information transfer and outreachactivities of the institutes result in about1000 technical publications each year andmore than 200 conferences, seminars, andworkshops. Nearly every institute main-tains a web site, which can be reachedthrough the web site athttp://water.usgs.gov/wrri/.

FUNDING LEVELS

In FY 2002, $4,748,000 was appropri-ated for the state institute grants and $1 mil-lion for the national competitive grants, fora total appropriation of $5,748,000. In ad-dition, $252,000 was appropriated for ad-ministration of the program.

The Water Resources Research Act au-thorizes a total appropriation of $10 millionfor the state institute grants and $4 millionfor the national competitive grants. The au-thorization level for the program increasesto a total of $18 million in FY 2004, $12million for the state grants and $6 millionfor the national competitive grants.

Photo by Paul Godfrey, University of Masschusetts

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Appropriations for the State WaterResources Research Program