GRANTS FROM THE ALABAMA WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE
STATEWIDE GRANTS
The Alabama Water Resources Research Institute (AWRRI) awards grants annually to Alabama-based P.I.’s through the USGS WRRA 104b Annual Base Grants Program. Typically, 3–4 research proposals are selected by the AWRRI each year. Faculty members or affiliates from any university or college in Alabama can submit proposals for up to $35,000 of federal funding (1:1 match with non-federal dollars required). See the section below for details and find the Request for Proposals (RFP) and supporting documents here.
The goal of the AWRRI is to support research and training that is responsive to the identified priority problems of our state and region. We focus on research proposals that have a high probability of producing useful results and/or attracting more adequate funding based on positive results.
NATIONAL GRANTS
The National Institutes for Water Resources and U.S. Geological Survey award grants annually under the WRRA 104g National Competitive Grants Program. Virtually all “national” water resources problems are covered. We focus on research proposals that have a high probability of producing useful results and/or attracting more adequate funding based on positive results.
See the sections below for Fiscal Year 2025 details.
2025 Statewide Competitive Grants Program
Funded by the USGS WRRA Annual 104(b) Base Grants Program
$35,000 for 1-year projects to begin 9/1/2025
(open to all academic institutions in Alabama)
Update 4/1/2025: The call for proposals to the FY25 AWRRI Statewide Competitive Grant Program has closed.
The AWRRI aims to respond to identified water resources problems of the state and region and to encourage and broaden faculty participation in research and other scholarly pursuits. The AWRRI is obligated to fund proposals with a high probability of producing impactful results and having a strong potential of obtaining continued funding. Such projects will directly benefit the researcher, their profession, their students, and the Institute’s overall mission.
Details
Funding available: $35,000 for 12 month projects (1:1 match with non-federal dollars required)
Open to: Faculty or affiliates of all academic institutions in Alabama
Important dates:
Request for Proposals opens January 27, 2025
Proposals are due March 31, 2025 (4:45 pm CT)
Period of project performance: September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026 (unless changed by the USGS Program Office).
Priority funding areas:
- Climate change and resiliency
- Coastal water research and policy
- Groundwater resources and contamination
- Infrastructure water management
- Innovative technologies
- Surface water quantity and quality
Application Materials:
FY25 RFP for AWRRI Statewide Competitive Grants Program
Update 3/3/2025: A previous version of the RFP incorrectly limited the Proposal Synopsis and Project Narrative to two pages collectively. The version linked here correctly limits the Proposal Synopsis to two pages and the Project Narrative to 10 pages.
AWRRI 104b Proposal Budget Form
AWRRI 104b Proposal Budget Justification Form
DOI Covered UAS Assessment Guide
Submissions:
Update 4/1/2025: The call for proposals to the FY25 AWRRI Statewide Competitive Grant Program has closed.
- The proposal should be uploaded as a single PDF file.
- Please use the following format for the file name: “FY25_LastName_Institution” where “LastName” represents the PI’s last name and “Institution” represents the PI’s academic institution (abbreviations are acceptable).
See RFP for additional details.
For questions or assistance contact Dr. Adam Newby at newbyaf@auburn.edu or 334-844- 3993.
2025 National Competitive Grant Program
2025 104(g) National Competitive Grants
**FY 2025 104(g) Request for Proposals Will be Announced by the USGS Soon**
Proposals deadline to be announced then. Send materials or questions to Dr. Adam Newby at newbyaf@auburn.edu.
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Informational Webinar on WRRA 104(g) National Competitive Grants Program
The Water Resources Research Institutes in the Great Lakes Region hosted an informational webinar for prospective applicants to the WRRA 104(g) National Competitive Grants Program on April 23, 2024. A recording of the webinar and the slides can be found at the following links:
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FY2024 Funding Opportunities:
1. 104(g) General (G25AS00536) – Click here for information and application
2. PFAS (G25AS00535)– Click here for information and application
3. Aquatic Invasive Species (G25AS00534) – Click here for information and application
For each announcement, click on the “Related Documents” tab to download a full announcement.
Collaboration with USGS staff is strongly encouraged. Please carefully read the COLLABORATION BY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES section within each Full Announcement (available on the “Related Documents” tab). Proposals with a federal collaborator must be accompanied by a letter of support that is signed by someone in leadership at the designated center; this cannot be the collaborator.
Work with your academic unit to submit a completed USGS WRRI 104g proposal to the Alabama WRRI. Deadline to be announced soon. Email newbyaf@auburn.edu to submit your proposal.
For questions or assistance contact Dr. Adam Newby at newbyaf@auburn.edu or 334-844- 3993.
Previously Funded 104(b) Grants
Previously Funded Projects:
2023
Michael Perez, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, “Impacts of re-nourishment or accretion on marsh vegetation survival.”
Thorsten Knappenberger, Associate Professor, Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University, “Land use change effects on coastal headwater wetland hydrology.”
2022
Julia Cherry, Professor and Director, Department of Biological Sciences and New College, University of Alabama, “Interactive effects of nutrient enrichment and wave energy on plant community structure and ecosystem stability in an Alabama tidal marsh.”
Jasmeet Lamba, Associate Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, “Effect of cover cropping on soil pore properties and nutrient leaching.”
Jake Nelson, Ann Ojeda, and Stephanie Rogers, Co-Principal Investigators, Assistant Professors, Department of Geosciences, Auburn University, “Building a private well contamination risk model to reduce environmental inequity.”
2021
Frances O’Donnell Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Jose Vasconcelos Co-Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, Benjamin Bowers Co-Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, “Water quality dynamics of permeable pavement in Alabama.”
Kevin Wang Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Alan Wilson, Co-Principal Investigator, Professor, James Stoeckel Co-Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University “Engineering a cost-effective biochar-surfactant system for sorpiton and degradation of PFAS in drinking water and groundwater in Alabama.”
Yaniv Olshansky Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Ann Ojeda Co-Principal Investigator, Department of Geosciences, Auburn University, “Interactions of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl substances with dissolved organic matter as potential contributor to water contamination.”
2020
Milad Rabbani, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, “High-performance adsorptive membranes functionalized by super-fine powder activated carbon for enhanced removal of long-chained and sort-chained perfluoroalkyl substances.”
Brendan Higgins Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Co-Principal Investigators: Dusty Kimbrow, City of Auburn, Alabama, Dan Hilyer, City of Opelika, William Kent, Columbus Water Works (GA) “Development of a predictive model for taste and odor episodes in regional drinking water reservoirs.”
Evan Wujcik Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Leigh Terry Co-Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Mark Elliott Co-Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, University of Alabama, “Development of a practical, efficient, and inexpensive sensor for real-time effective determination of trihalomethanes in treated drinking water.”
ABOUT THE AL WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE
About the AWRRI
The AWRRI’s mission is to provide technical information relevant to the conservation and use of Alabama’s water resources. The Alabama Water Resources Research Institute (AWRRI) is one of 54 water resources institutes nationwide authorized by the Federal Water Resources Research Act, administered by the US Geological Survey. The state-based Water Resources Research Institutes are located at land grant universities, like Auburn University, and promote research and information dissemination on the state’s and nation’s water resources problems.
The Alabama Water Resources Research Institute (AWRRI) is a university-based, interdisciplinary, problem-oriented research and technology center with support from the federal government that enables the program to address broad national needs and relevant industrial technology.
The WRRI coordinates research programs that are applicable to the solution of present and emerging water resources problems. In carrying out this mission, the Institute has developed a broadly based research, training, information transfer, and public service program involving personnel from many academic disciplines in the state’s research universities.
Purpose of the Institute
The institute is a university-based, interdisciplinary, problem-oriented research and technology center with support from the Federal Government that enables our program to address broad national needs and relevant industrial technology.
Our goal is to support research and training that is responsive to the identified priority problems of our State and the Southeastern Region of the United States. Virtually all “national” water resources problems are thereby covered. The AWRRI focuses on research proposals that have a high probability of producing useful results and/or attracting more adequate funding based on positive results.
Our Mission
Alabama is blessed with an abundant supply of water. The present management and development of the state’s water resources will largely determine the quality of life for future Alabamians. Water is frequently cited by top state officials as the number one natural resource concern in Alabama. As this state grows, so will the demand on our water resources. Decisions must be made concerning the myriad of inter-related water resources needs – municipal, industrial, and agricultural water supplies; waste-water disposal systems; flood and drought management; recreation areas for fishing, boating, and swimming; and fish/wildlife habitat. In making decisions concerning water resources use, all factors (environmental, economic, and social) must be taken into account. Scientific research provides a technical base of information necessary for decision making.
Objectives
To plan, conduct, and 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 and technicians, (c) the preliminary exploration of new ideas that address water problems or expand understanding of water and water-related phenomena, and (d) the dissemination of research results to water managers and the public.
To identify major research needs and develop for Alabama and the Southeastern Region short- and long-term research priorities.
To encourage research applying to environmental resources closely associated with water.
To maintain close consultation and collaboration with governmental agencies, public groups, and cooperate closely with other colleges and universities in the state that have demonstrated capabilities for research, information dissemination, and graduate training in order to develop a statewide program designed to resolve state and regional water and related land problems.
Services Provided by the Institute
Research:
The essential ingredient for determining proper policies and practices is factual information. Often such information must be obtained by means of scientific research. The Institute conducts a program that stimulates, sponsors, and provides for research, investigation, and experimentation in the fields of water and of resources as they affect water, and encourages the training of scientists in the fields related to water.
Project Planning Assistance:
Successful management requires planning that not only has access to the best available scientific information, but also involves effective communication and coordination between individuals and groups.
A hallmark of the Institute is its commitment to program management. Continuing fiscal management to the project level and frequent contact with principal investigators and their Department Heads and Deans is bolstered by midyear detailed project reviews. Principal Investigators are specifically advised about information needs and schedules to meet reporting requirements of the granting agencies. The Institute provides financial, editorial, and other assistance to insure that publishable results are made available and made known through appropriate media.
Education and Training:
Students are an integral part of the Institute’s research program as one of the Institute’s primary goals is to transmit, store, and use knowledge to train future scientists.
Although the Institute does not have the responsibility for course instruction leading to a specific degree, it supplements and extends existing programs. It provides a variety of educational opportunities for students and helps them to develop an understanding of the problems of natural resource management at theoretical and practical levels. In many cases, students work on a particular aspect of a research project which then becomes the basis for their Master’s theses or Doctoral dissertations.
The process of having a high level of activity by many people interactively engaged in advancing water science and solving water resources problems is an accumulating investment in human capital. People are training and being trained to deal with the even greater problems of the future. Education is an investment in a trained cadre of experts for the future.
WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL
The Water Resources Council is responsible for recommending research priorities and reviewing and approving faculty research proposals. Established in 1964 to help develop the Institute’s initial program, the Council meets one or two times each year. Members include representatives from state and federal agencies (e.g., Geological Survey of Alabama, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Alabama Office of Water Resources, United States Geological Survey, Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources). Membership also includes cooperating universities (Alabama A&M, Tuskegee University, University of Alabama in Huntsville, and University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa), industry, and nongovernmental organizations.
- Eve Brantley (Chair) – Auburn University Water Resources Center
- Tom Littlepage – Alabama Department of Environmental and Community Affairs, Office of Water Resources
- Bennett Bearden – Geological Survey of Alabama
- Amy Gill – U.S. Geological Survey; Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center
- Chris L. Johnson – Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Water Division
- Ross Nazari – University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Engineering
- Lee Ellenburg – University of Alabama at Huntsville, Earth System Science Center
- Pat O’Neil – Cawaco RC&D
- Wubishet Tadesse – Alabama A&M University, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
- Joseph Quansah – Tuskegee University, Department of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
- Jason Throneberry – The Nature Conservancy of Alabama
- Todd Fobian – Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Fisheries Section
- Josh Bruce – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Lynn Sisk – Jacobs Engineering Group Incorporation
- Michael Gremillion – University of Alabama, Alabama Water Institute
- VACANT – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CONTACT US
For inquiries regarding the annual 104(b) RFP and 104(b) research proposals, please contact:
Dr. Adam Newby, newbyaf@auburn.edu or 334-844- 3993