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Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment (KCARE)

Kansas Water Resources Institute (KWRI)

The Kansas Water Resources Institute (KWRI) develops and supports research on high priority water resource problems and objectives, as identified through the state water planning process.  It is also designed to facilitate effective communication between water resources professionals and to foster the dissemination and application of research results.

KWRI is funded by a combination of federal funds through the U.S. Geological Survey and non-federal funds from state and other sources.  It is part of the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR).  NIWR provides a national platform for research, training and collaboration. 

KWRI's Mission: The Kansas Water Resources Institute develops and supports research on high priority water resource problems and objectives, as identified through the state water plan.  KWRI facilitates effective communication between water resources professionals and helps disseminate and apply research results.

Kansas Water Resources Institute Summary

Funding opportunities

Travel awards for students!

We are pleased to announce that the National Institutes of Water Resources (NIWR) is sponsoring travel awards for students to attend the Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) conference from June 13-15, 2023 in Fort Collins, CO. One awardee per NIWR region will be chosen at random, with awards ranging from $1,200 to $2,500. More information and a simple application form can be found online. Students should apply on their own behalf. 

For questions, contact Michael Dietz at Michael.dietz@uconn.edu.

Water Resources Research Act Program National Competitve Grants FY2023

These three separate grants from the United State Geological Survey (USGS), are open to any investigator at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States. This RFP encourages proposals with substantial collaboration between USGS and university scientists. Proposals are required to match 1:1 with non-federal dollars.

This competitive grant program focuses on water problems and issues of a regional or interstate nature beyond those of concern only to a single state and which relate to specific program priorities identified jointly by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the Water Resources Research Institutes. Links to each grant, with details about research priorities, are below.

Only applications made through KWRI will be accepted. Submissions must be made by April 19 for the pre-award process. Final proposals will be filed by 5 pm on April 27, 2023. Those with questions can contact KCARE or you can watch a recent webinar on how to apply for the 2023 National Grants.

 

A summary of FY 23 Water Resources Research Act National Grants are listed below. Note that these are only summaries; please take the time to visit the links for the full RFPs.

Grant Program Announcement: 104(g) General

Applicants can request up to $310,000, with a 1:1 non-federal match. Research priorities include:

  1. National-scale evaluation of water budget: Retrospective or predictive analyses using hydroclimate-forcing data sets, with emphasis on CONUS404.
  2. Socioeconomics: Integrate ongoing USGS research and data collection in order to assess socioeconomic and ecological vulnerability to compounding extreme events and develop adaptation measures.

Previous successful research topics have included research on improving and enhancing the nation's water supply, developing innovative approaches to water treatment, evaluation of the dynamics of extreme hydrological events and associated costs; development of methods for better estimation of the physical and economic supply of water; developing approaches for integrated management of ground and surface waters; and the evaluation and assessment of conservation practices.

Grant Program Announcement: Per- and Polyfluroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Applicants can request up to $279,000, with a 1:1 non-federal match. Research priorities include:

  1. Media-specific methods: Enhanced methods for detection on specific media, including (in ranked order) (1) Tissues/plasma, (2) sediment, (3) air or interfaces, (4) water.
  2. Atmospheric sources: Improved understanding of atmospheric exchange in PFAS distribution and fate.
  3. Processes oriented at molecular level: Process-oriented research of PFAS fate, transport, and effects, with emphasis on molecular-level understanding of PFAS precursor transformation, sorption dynamics, or mechanisms of bioaccumulation and(or) biological/ecological effects.

Previous successful research topics have included research on the fate, persistence, transport, and impacts of per-and Polyfluoroalky (PFAS) substances on changes to water quality and/or ecosystem dynamics, in water resources, including surface water and groundwater.

Grant Program Announcement: Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)

Applicants can request up to $279,000, with a 1:1 non-federal match. Research priorities include:

  1. Effects: Research that improves our understanding of the effects of aquatic invasive species on lakes, rivers, and associated tributaries in the upper Mississippi River basin, including changes to water quantity, water quality, and ecosystem dynamics.
  2. Characteristics: Research that identifies physical, biological, and chemical characteristics of water bodies that infer resistance and resilience to the distribution, establishment, and effects of aquatic invasive species in the upper Mississippi River basin.
  3. Management: Research on assessment of the detection, spread, and management of aquatic invasive species in the upper Mississippi River basin and the connections to human dimensions, both socially and economically

Previous successful research topics have included research on improving our understanding of the impacts of aquatic invasive species on lakes and rivers in the Upper Mississippi River basin, including changes to water quantity, quality and ecosystem dynamics and the social and/or economic assessment of the spread, detection, impacts, solutions, and management of aquatic invasive species in the Upper Mississippi River basin.

Kansas Water Resources Institute 104(b) Program

The RFP is closed for this year's 104(b) program, which is open to faculty and research staff at all Kansas state universities. Funded projects will support research that explores new ideas to address water problems in Kansas and expands understanding of water and related phenomena within the Kansas context.

KWRI expects to fund up to four grants of up to $50,000 each. Projects will be funded for 24 months. Watch this space to learn more about the funded projects

For those interested, the full RFP included additional information about submissions and proposal review; those interested in additional information can contact KCARE.

Current KWRI Projects

The KWRI FY 2020 newsletter cover. In the upper right hand corner, there is a photo of a woman in jeans, kneeling by the side of a stream, wearing safety glasses and holding a water testing jar in front of her. Behind this photo is a blue sky reflected in a calm river. The contents of the newsletter are described.

 

About NIWR

The National Institutes of Water Resources (NIWR) addresses water-related concerns across the nation. The 54 member institutes, located at land grant universities as well as in each of the four U.S. territories, use research, training, and collaboration at the state level to identify priorities and answer questions about water management.

The institutes use the unique expertise found at universities, paired with education and outreach capabilities to fund solutions for water management challenges. This knowledge is deep and broad, allowing for a laser focus on the water issues and policies specific to each state. Starting from the local level, the institutes’ successes create a flood of positive impacts across the United States.

Want to learn more about NIWR? Visit their website for news, events, and other information. You can also download the NIWR Factsheet for information about the institutes and highlighted research projects.

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