2026 National Competitive Grant Program
2026 National Competitive Grant Program supports university researchers developing validated methods to measure and predict industrial water use, improving national assessments and local decisions.
Funder: Vermont Water Resources and Lake Studies Center
Due Dates: November 10, 2026, 5:00 PM ET (Vermont Water Center) | November 12, 2026, 5:00 PM ET (Grants.gov)
Funding Amounts: Up to $120,000 for one to three years; $462,500 total anticipated funding for four awards
Summary: Supports research developing transparent, validated methods to measure and predict water use by data centers and other water-intensive industries.
Key Information: Researchers must apply through a designated Water Resources Research Institute, not directly to USGS.
Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) administers this national competition under the Water Resources Research Act’s 104g program, with Vermont applications coordinated by the Vermont Water Resources and Lake Studies Center. It supports research to improve the nation’s water supply and availability, prioritizing innovative methods for observing, estimating, and validating water use by data centers and other industries drawing from public supply systems.
Research must integrate diverse data sources and artificial intelligence or machine learning to improve transparency, traceability, and understanding of uncertainty. Topics include predicting future water use, quantifying wastewater reuse, characterizing self-supplied withdrawals, and assessing seasonal demand. Methods should support national assessments and local decisions. USGS–university collaboration is encouraged, as are America250 projects recognizing the nation’s founding, history, and cultural heritage.
