Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in processing and analyzing of data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission. The project will advance hydrologic decision making from remotely sensed water surface elevation by making available water surface elevation data at unprecedented scales. Research Scientists in the Observing Systems Division have a wealth of knowledge specific to an ongoing study to process and analyze SWOT data for hydrological applications. This research will advance understanding through detailed assessments of SWOT data accuracy and the production of low-latency water resource monitoring data streams.This project creates a significant partnership between USGS and CESU researchers to address questions of mutual interest, such as (1) extracting water surface elevations from SWOT pixel cloud data and (2) automating the publication of water surface elevation for all resolvable waterbodies across the United States. These objectives are of considerable interest to scientists and resource managers for effective management and monitoring of water resources at the national, regional, and local scale. This project will provide opportunities to develop and expand current expertise, share expertise with federal scientists, and enhance the ability of all federal and academic partners to focus research on questions related to critical resource management decisions.This project will support the protection of life and safety by expanding the water resource monitoring network from a few thousand discrete locations to more than 1 million locations.As water resources are critical to harvest, extract, and process critical minerals and energy resources, this work aligns with:EO 14156 Declaring a National Energy Emergency (January 20, 2025)SO 3417 Addressing the National Energy Emergency (February 3, 2025)EO 14154 Unleashing American Energy (January 20, 2025)SO 3418 Unleashing American Energy (February 3, 2025)EO 14153 Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential (January 20, 2025)SO 3422 Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential (February 3, 2025)By focusing on robust uncertainty metrics in remotely sensed water surface elevation, while leveraging AI/ML capabilities, this work aligns with:EO 14303 Restoring Gold Standard Science (May 23, 2025)SO 3441 - Implementing the Requirements of Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science (August 29, 2025)WH Strategy America's AI Action Plan, July, 2025SO 3444 Leading Interior's Path to Artificial Intelligence Transformation (September 17, 2025)Further, by using a fixed cost approach with written justification and senior approval the NOFO aligns with:EO 14402, Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting (April 30, 2025)Finally, mapping water resources supports:SO 3447 Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access, Removing Unnecessary Barriers, and Ensuring Consistency Across the Depart of the Interior Lands and Waters, (January 7, 2026)SO 3442 Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior (September 4, 2025)

This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program. CESUs are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.