Long-Term Water Supply Study for High Growth Basins (2026)
The North Carolina Collaboratory funds research to address long-term water supply and management challenges in the state's fastest-growing river basins.
Funder: North Carolina Collaboratory
Due Dates: September 25, 2026: Phase 1 Expression of Interest deadline
Funding Amounts: $5 million total direct costs for a multi-PI team; project period: Jan 2027–Apr 2029
Summary: Funds a collaborative research study on long-term water supply challenges in North Carolina's high-growth river basins, aiming to inform state policy and management.
Key Information: No-cost extensions are not permitted; all work must conclude by April 30, 2029.
Description
This funding opportunity from the North Carolina Collaboratory supports a large-scale, multi-institutional research effort to address long-term water supply challenges within high-growth river basins in North Carolina, specifically the Cape Fear, Catawba, and Neuse basins. The initiative seeks to generate actionable scientific findings and policy recommendations to guide the state's response to increasing water demand and infrastructure needs driven by rapid population and economic growth. The selected research team will engage with a broad range of stakeholders and integrate expertise across water management, modeling, economics, engineering, environmental protection, and policy.
