Process Design for Translational Science and Effective Tools in Water Resources Management and Planning for the Upper Gila River Watershed | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this grant opportunity about?

This opportunity from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (CFDA 15.560, SECURE Water Act Research Agreements) supports research and applied work to improve water resources management and planning in the Upper Gila River Watershed in the Western United States. The project centers on creating and testing a collaborative planning process and producing practical decision tools that watershed partnerships can use to make clearer, more transparent water management decisions.

What problem is the opportunity trying to address?

The opportunity is motivated by projected long-term water shortages described in the Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study. As the gap between water supply and demand widens over time, competition among agricultural, municipal, industrial, environmental, and other interests is expected to increase, raising the risk of disputes. The grant frames collaboration as a way to reduce conflict and improve allocation decisions, especially in rural areas with limited staffing, funding, and technical capacity.

What is the main purpose of the funded project?

The central purpose is to design and test an effective collaborative watershed planning process and to produce practical tools that help watershed partnerships make better, more transparent water decisions. A key deliverable is a Decision Support System (DSS) grounded in stakeholder input and informed by both technical analysis and real-world planning needs.

What is the Decision Support System (DSS) intended to do?

The DSS is intended to help researchers, policymakers, and water managers plan for future conditions and manage watershed resources more effectively. It is meant to reflect stakeholder priorities and translate the project’s data, models, objectives, and evaluation criteria into a usable planning tool.

Who is expected to benefit from the DSS and project outputs?

Based on the announcement, intended users include researchers, policymakers, and water managers, as well as watershed partnerships working on collaborative planning and decision-making in the Upper Gila River Watershed and potentially beyond through dissemination of findings.

Where is the project focused geographically?

The project is focused on the Upper Gila River Watershed in the Western United States.

Why does the opportunity emphasize collaboration and watershed partnerships?

The announcement notes that watershed groups can be effective vehicles for cooperation and improved management when they have the right support, but it also highlights limited research on which collaborative processes and decision tools work best in a watershed partnership setting. The project aims to address that gap by developing and evaluating both the collaborative planning process and the DSS.

What are the major tasks described for the project?

The work is organized into five major tasks:

1. Identify water management needs and establish clear objectives (including local constraints and legal/institutional realities and stakeholder priorities).
2. Estimate water supply and demand, then develop management strategies and alternative scenarios to explore tradeoffs under varying hydrologic and demand conditions.
3. Create measurable metrics to determine whether objectives are being met, enabling comparison of alternatives and tracking progress over time.
4. Build the DSS using stakeholder input and outputs from the earlier tasks.
5. Evaluate the DSS and the process used to create it, then disseminate findings so lessons learned can inform future watershed planning beyond the Upper Gila River area.

What does the first task (needs and objectives) generally involve?

It typically involves understanding local constraints, legal and institutional realities, and the priorities of different stakeholder groups, and then translating that understanding into clear planning objectives.

What does the second task (supply/demand and scenarios) generally involve?

It involves estimating water supply and demand and using those estimates to develop management strategies and alternative scenarios. The intent is to help users explore tradeoffs under different hydrologic and demand conditions.

Why are metrics included as a specific task?

The project includes creating measurable metrics so stakeholders can determine whether objectives are being met. Metrics are described as essential for comparing alternatives and tracking progress over time.

What does it mean that the project will evaluate both the DSS and the process?

The announcement indicates the recipient will assess not only how well the DSS performs as a planning tool, but also how effective the collaborative planning process was in developing it. Results will be disseminated to support broader learning for future watershed planning efforts.

Is this a competitive grant opportunity?

No. The notice states it is a notice of intent to award and that no competition is being sought, meaning the agency is not soliciting multiple competing applications for this particular funding action.

How many awards does the agency expect to make?

The announcement indicates an expected single award.

What is the estimated funding amount and award ceiling?

The estimated total funding is $188,588, and the award ceiling is also listed as $188,588.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What type of grant is this?

Administratively, it is described as a discretionary grant.

Which program and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is under CFDA 15.560, SECURE Water Act Research Agreements.

What are the key dates listed in the announcement?

The opportunity was posted on August 3, 2014. The original and current closing date is August 17, 2014. The archive date is September 16, 2014.

Who should be contacted for access issues related to the opportunity?

The notice lists Grants Officer Shawna Thompson at the Bureau of Reclamation for access issues. Phone: 702-293-8570. Email: smthompson@usbr.gov.

What broader context is cited for why this work matters?

The announcement cites long-term water shortage projections from the Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study and notes that increasing scarcity can intensify competition among uses and increase the risk of conflict. The project’s collaborative approach is presented as a practical way to reduce disputes and improve allocation and planning decisions.