WRRC Now Accepting 104(b) Water Research Grant Proposals
Please help spread the news—the WRRC is now accepting proposals for this year’s federal WRRA 104(b) grants. The Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) Section 104(b) program provides small grants for university-based research projects on water-related issues in Arizona. Proposals featuring student work are encouraged.
The typical 104(b) award is $10,000 for one project year, expected to run from September 1 through August 31. With help from topic experts, the WRRC reviews proposals and includes those selected in its annual submission to the US Geological Survey (USGS), which administers the 104(b) program. Proposal instructions can be found at the links below. The deadline to submit a 104(b) proposal this year is 5:00 pm MST on Monday, March 16, 2026.
The WRRC also assists with the 104(g) program, which supports research that is regional or national in scope. Faculty and research personnel at any of Arizona’s three state universities may submit proposals for the 104(b) and/or 104(g). Both grants requires that there be a 1:1 match of non-federal to federal dollars. Please work with the appropriate budget office personnel in advance of proposal submission.
Researchers interested in applying for the 104(g) should review the 2025 RFP as a guide and anticipate an early-April 2026 submission. Although this award is administered by USGS, 104(g) grant proposals must be submitted through the state water resources research institutes (WRRI) authorized by the WRRA; the WRRC is Arizona’s designated WRRI. Please check the USGS Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) Program webpage, as well as the WRRC 104(g) webpage, for updates and the 2026 RFP release.
As always, 104(b) and 104(g) grants are subject to the availability of federal funding. Due to uncertainty around federal funding and timelines, it is unclear whether this year’s funding amounts and timelines will be comparable to that of previous years. The 2026 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 104(b) and 104(g) from USGS have not yet been released. Please check the links below for updates as they become available.