104(b) Annual Base Grants - Each year, the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center funds projects through the US Geological Survey’s 104(b) program as instituted by the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. The call for pre-proposals comes out in the fall of each year.
TNWRRC selects two different types of pre-proposals: (1) faculty research proposals, and (2) graduate student supplemental research grants. If selected for funding, the investigator may be asked to provide additional information or make modifications to the proposal, based on comments from the TNWRRC Advisory Board members and the TNWRRC director.
Who can apply:
- Faculty members or affiliates of any accredited college or university (public or private) in Tennessee.
- Federal employees are NOT eligible as a principal investigator, but can participate as a coinvestigator.
- Full time graduate students in good academic standing attending an accredited college or university (public or private) in Tennessee.
For more information or if you have questions, contact TNWRRC’s Director, John Schwartz, or Assistant Director, Tim Gangaware. Additional information, along with a list of projects funded in the past, is available here.
104(g) National Competitive Grants - The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR), supports an annual call for proposals to focus on water problems and issues that are of a regional or interstate nature or relate to a specific program priority identified by the Secretary of the Interior and the Institutes.
National Competitive Grants must be submitted through a Water Research Institute or Center. Projects can be up to three years in duration, and may request up to $250,000 in federal funds. Successful applicants must match each dollar of the federal grant with one dollar from non-federal sources. Proposals involving substantial collaboration between the USGS and university scientists are encouraged.
Who can apply: Any investigator at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States is eligible to apply for a grant through a Water Research Institute or Center established under the provisions of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended.
The Call for Proposals is usually issued in late Fall with a Spring deadline. For more information or if you have questions, contact TNWRRC’s Director, John Schwartz, or Assistant Director, Tim Gangaware. Additional information, along with a list of projects funded in the past, is available at here.
TNWRRC Director John Schwartz encourages greater Tennessee involvement. Read the article here.
Tennessee Dept of Agriculture Nonpoint Source Program (319 program) - This program, run by the Tennessee Dept of Agriculture (TDA) Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program (319 program) is non-regulatory, promoting voluntary, incentive-based solutions. It is a cost-share program, paying for 60% of the cost of a project. It is up to the grantee to come up with the remaining 40%, usually in cash and “in-kind” services. It primarily funds two types of programs:
- Watershed Restoration Projects improve an impaired waterbody, or prevent a not impaired water from becoming placed on the 303(d) List. Projects of this type receive highest priority for funding. All projects involving BMPs must be based on an approved “Watershed Based Plan”. Small projects can be funded to write these plans.
- Educational Projects funded through TDA-NPS raise public awareness of practical steps that can be taken to eliminate NPS pollution.
Who can apply: Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, local governments, state agencies, soil conservation districts, and universities.
Contact: Email Sam Marshall, Ph.D., Manager, Nonpoint Source and CAFO Programs or call (615) 837-5306.
Due Date: Usually December 1st every year
More information is available here.