What are the Elements of the Water Resources Research Act?

What are the Elements of the Water Resources Research Act?
(42 USC §10301 et seq.)

Institute Research Grants [§104 (b)]

  • Research priorities are set by each institute’s state advisory committee.
  • Creates a long-term linkage between universities, state agencies and federal agencies for the solution
    of the nation’s water problems and supports a national network of water resources research institutes.
  • Focuses on state and regional water resources problems that can be solved by researchers at academic institutions in states with common problems.
  • All federal funds must be matched by at least two non-federal dollars for each federal dollar.
  • Objectives include support of: research responsive to priority needs, seed projects, new and emerging career professionals, and quick transfer of results to users.
  • Management of water resources has always been primarily a state and local responsibility. Research, with the exception of the Institute Program, has been a national undertaking. The Institute Program has permitted states to participate significantly in addressing their specific water research needs in concert with federal priorities and programs.
  • State Water Resources Research Intitute research projects funded for 1996-2008 can be viewed at:
    http://water.usgs.gov/wrri/projects.html.

National Research Grants [Section 104 (g)]

  • Research priorities are set jointly by the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) and the U.S. Geological Survey. In FY2009, emphasis is given to the topic of water availability through technological and institutional/economic innovation.
  • These national-scope projects depend on the existence of the state, regional and national network created by the 104(b) program.
  • The program focuses on regional and interstate water resources problems beyond those of concern only to a single state.
  • All federal funds must be matched by at least one non-federal dollar for each Federal dollar.
  • Awards are made only after joint, state and federal, priority setting and reviews for regional and national relevancy and technical merit.
  • An explicit program objective is the development of research on regional and national water problems in support of state and federal priorities.
  • Important regional research has not been adequately supported by any other federal programs and is weakly supported by state consortia. This effort effectively taps the potential of academic expertise while facilitating linkages of Institutes across states and with federal and state agencies. 104(g) provides the major mechansim to meet the growing needs not filled by State or Federal research programs.
  • Research grants awarded from 1999 to 2007 under Section 104(g) can be viewed at: http:// water.usgs.gov/wrri/projects.html.

Next Page: What are the Water Resources Research Institutes?