Created by an act of Congress in 1879, the USGS provides science for a changing world, which reflects and responds to society’s continuously evolving needs. As the science arm of the Department of the Interior, the USGS brings an array of earth, water, biological, and mapping data and expertise to bear in support of decision-making on environmental, resource, and public safety issues.
This grant program, rooted in the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 and its subsequent amendments, centers around funding Water Resources Research Institutes across the United States, including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. The initiative aims to support research, education, and knowledge dissemination in the field of water resources. Furthermore, it extends its reach to include the Federated States of Micronesia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands through the Guam Institute, and American Samoa through the Hawaii Institute, thereby promoting comprehensive water resources management and problem-solving at both local and regional levels.