Opportunity Information: Apply for 09SF811503
Apply for 09SF811503
- The Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Impact of Climate Change on Extreme Floods in the Western United States" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.507 WaterSMART (Sustaining and Manage Americas Resources for Tomorrow).
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 11, 2009 and posted on Jul 15, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 10, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $225,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Universities, Non Profit Research Institution, Organization with water or power delivery authority.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Impact of Climate Change on Extreme Floods in the Western United States" is a Bureau of Reclamation (Denver Office) research award aimed at improving understanding of how climate change and long-term climate variability relate to the occurrence of extreme floods in the western United States. The core scientific question is whether paleoflood evidence (geologic and geomorphic records of ancient floods) shows periods of increased flood frequency and larger flood magnitudes during particular long-duration climate shifts, and whether those inferred flood episodes align with what is known from long-term instrumental or reconstructed streamflow records. In other words, the project is trying to connect rare, high-impact flood behavior to climate patterns that play out over centuries to millennia, not just the relatively short window covered by modern gauges.
To build that understanding, the work centers on developing a robust paleoflood chronology. The announcement highlights three main technical components that are meant to reinforce each other. First, researchers will conduct paleoflood field studies, which typically involve identifying and mapping flood deposits, slackwater sediments, flood-eroded surfaces, high-water indicators, and other physical evidence that preserves the signature of past extreme events. Second, the study will apply two geochronology techniques to validate and tighten the age constraints on the identified paleofloods, recognizing that reliable dating is critical if the goal is to test links between floods and specific climate intervals. Third, the team will run hydraulic models to estimate the discharges associated with individual paleoflood events, translating field evidence of flood stage and flow conditions into quantitative peak flow estimates. The intent is that by combining field observations, independent dating approaches, and hydraulic modeling, the resulting chronology will be strong enough to address broader theoretical questions about how hydrologic extremes respond to climate forcing.
Beyond constructing the chronology itself, the opportunity emphasizes practical and analytical follow-on value. The results are expected to inform flood hydroclimatology (how climate controls flood-generating mechanisms and patterns) and improve flood frequency analysis, which underpins infrastructure design, dam safety, reservoir operations, floodplain mapping, and risk management. Because the most damaging floods are rare and can be underrepresented in gauge records, adding paleoflood data can materially change estimates of extreme-event probabilities and help agencies avoid underestimating risk in a changing climate.
Dissemination and stakeholder relevance are also explicit goals. Findings from the study are intended to be shared broadly with state and federal agencies, non-profit groups, and floodplain managers, suggesting the project is designed to support both scientific understanding and real-world decision-making in water management and hazard planning across the western U.S.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement under the Natural Resources activity category. The program is associated with CFDA 15.507, WaterSMART (Sustaining and Manage Americas Resources for Tomorrow). The expected number of awards is one, with an estimated total funding amount of $225,000 and an award ceiling of $225,000 (no award floor listed). Cost sharing or matching is not required. Eligible applicants include universities, non-profit research institutions, and organizations with water or power delivery authority (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement). The opportunity was posted July 15, 2009, with an original and current closing date of August 10, 2009, and an archive date of July 15, 2010. The listed contact for access issues is Randale Jackson, Contract Specialist and Grants Officer, at (303) 445-2432.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Impact of Climate Change on Extreme Floods in the Western United States".
2) Which federal office is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the Bureau of Reclamation (Denver Office).
3) What is the main purpose of the award?
The award supports research to improve understanding of how climate change and long-term climate variability relate to the occurrence of extreme floods in the western United States.
4) What core scientific question is the project trying to answer?
The central question is whether paleoflood evidence (geologic and geomorphic records of ancient floods) shows periods of increased flood frequency and larger flood magnitudes during particular long-duration climate shifts, and whether those inferred flood episodes align with what is known from long-term instrumental or reconstructed streamflow records.
5) What does "paleoflood evidence" mean in this opportunity?
In this context, paleoflood evidence refers to physical records of ancient floods preserved in the landscape, including geologic and geomorphic indicators that can be used to identify past extreme flood events and estimate their timing and magnitude.
6) Why does the opportunity focus on centuries-to-millennia climate patterns instead of only modern gauge records?
The opportunity aims to connect rare, high-impact flood behavior to climate patterns that play out over centuries to millennia, because modern stream gauges cover a comparatively short period and may underrepresent the rarest and most damaging floods.
7) What is a "paleoflood chronology" and why is it important here?
A paleoflood chronology is a time-ordered record of past extreme floods, including when they occurred and (through additional analysis) how large they were. The opportunity emphasizes building a robust chronology so that flood episodes can be compared against specific climate intervals and long-term hydrologic records.
8) What technical components are highlighted for building the paleoflood chronology?
The announcement highlights three reinforcing components:
- Paleoflood field studies to identify and map physical evidence of past floods.
- Application of two geochronology techniques to validate and tighten age constraints on identified paleofloods.
- Hydraulic modeling to estimate discharges (peak flows) associated with individual paleoflood events.
9) What kinds of field evidence might researchers look for during paleoflood field studies?
The opportunity notes field studies typically involve identifying and mapping items such as flood deposits, slackwater sediments, flood-eroded surfaces, high-water indicators, and other preserved physical signatures of extreme floods.
10) Why does the opportunity emphasize geochronology and dating?
Reliable dating is described as critical because testing links between floods and specific climate intervals depends on having strong age constraints for the paleoflood events. The announcement specifically calls for using two geochronology techniques to validate and tighten the timing.
11) What is the role of hydraulic modeling in this research?
Hydraulic modeling is used to estimate the discharges associated with individual paleofloods by translating field evidence of flood stage and flow conditions into quantitative peak flow estimates.
12) How are the three technical components intended to work together?
The intent is that field observations, independent dating approaches, and hydraulic modeling will reinforce each other so the resulting paleoflood chronology is strong enough to address broader questions about how hydrologic extremes respond to climate forcing.
13) What broader scientific or applied areas are expected to benefit from the results?
The opportunity states that results are expected to inform:
- Flood hydroclimatology (how climate controls flood-generating mechanisms and patterns)
- Flood frequency analysis, which supports infrastructure design and risk planning
14) Why might adding paleoflood data change flood risk estimates?
The opportunity notes that the most damaging floods are rare and can be underrepresented in gauge records. Incorporating paleoflood information can materially change estimates of extreme-event probabilities and help avoid underestimating risk in a changing climate.
15) What types of decisions or programs could use the improved flood frequency information?
The announcement lists several applications that depend on flood frequency analysis, including infrastructure design, dam safety, reservoir operations, floodplain mapping, and risk management.
16) Who is expected to use or receive the findings?
Findings are intended to be shared broadly with state and federal agencies, non-profit groups, and floodplain managers, supporting both scientific understanding and real-world decision-making in the western U.S.
17) What kind of funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This is described as a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement.
18) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Natural Resources.
19) What program and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.507, under WaterSMART (Sustaining and Manage Americas Resources for Tomorrow).
20) How many awards are expected to be made?
The expected number of awards is one.
21) What is the total funding amount and the maximum award size?
The estimated total funding amount is $225,000, and the award ceiling is also $225,000.
22) Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No award floor is listed in the information provided.
23) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required.
24) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include universities, non-profit research institutions, and organizations with water or power delivery authority. The announcement notes that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement.
25) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 15, 2009.
26) What is the application deadline?
The original and current closing date is August 10, 2009.
27) When was (or is) the opportunity archived?
The archive date is listed as July 15, 2010.
28) Who should be contacted for access issues?
The listed contact for access issues is Randale Jackson, Contract Specialist and Grants Officer, at (303) 445-2432.
29) What geographic area is the research focused on?
The research focus is the western United States.
30) What is the practical value of this research beyond the chronology itself?
Beyond producing a paleoflood chronology, the work is expected to support practical analysis and decision-making by improving understanding of climate controls on flooding and strengthening flood frequency analysis used in planning and risk management.
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