Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G25AS00066

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number and what type of award is it?

The opportunity is G25AS00066. It is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Because it is a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant), it is partnership-oriented and is expected to involve more active USGS participation than an award with minimal agency involvement.

Which USGS program is sponsoring this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued through the USGS Water Mission Area (WMA), specifically the Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Research and Development Program.

What problem is this funding trying to solve?

The funding targets a key hydrology observation gap: soil moisture can vary sharply over short distances at field and watershed scales, but commonly available measurement approaches either (a) cover very large areas at coarse spatial resolution (for example, some satellite products) or (b) provide very accurate measurements only at individual points (for example, in-situ sensors). The goal is to support methods and datasets that better represent real spatial variability in soil moisture.

What is the main technical focus of the proposed work?

The focus is on advancing high spatial resolution soil moisture mapping by using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with L-band sensing capabilities. UAV-based L-band measurements are intended to provide spatially dense observations over targeted areas.

Why is L-band mentioned, and what is its role in the project?

L-band is referenced because existing satellite soil moisture missions using L-band (such as SMAP) illustrate the tradeoff between broad coverage and coarse resolution. The project emphasis is on using an L-band sensor on a UAV to generate higher-resolution, intermediate-scale datasets that can help bridge the gap between satellite products and point-based ground measurements.

How does this opportunity relate to SMAP satellite soil moisture products?

The opportunity cites SMAP as an example of a valuable satellite L-band mission that provides broad coverage but at relatively coarse spatial resolution (roughly 40 km) with revisit intervals of about 2 to 3 days. The funded work is motivated in part by the need for more spatial detail than typical satellite products provide.

How does this opportunity relate to in-situ soil moisture sensors?

In-situ sensors are described as providing high-quality soil moisture measurements at the exact locations where they are installed, but they do not inherently capture the full spatial variability across a landscape. The opportunity seeks spatially continuous observations that complement point networks.

What is NGWOS already doing to improve soil moisture observations?

The notice describes NGWOS as expanding in-situ monitoring networks and adopting additional approaches such as cosmic ray neutron sensing at Innovation Test Beds (ITBs) across the United States. The UAV-based L-band work is positioned as an additional approach that can provide spatially dense measurements over targeted areas.

What mapping scale or performance target is NGWOS aiming for?

A stated NGWOS target is to enable daily soil moisture mapping at about 1 km resolution. The opportunity emphasizes that developing and validating these kinds of products requires spatially continuous, high-detail datasets that bridge the scale gap between satellite observations and point measurements.

What kind of dataset is the funded project expected to produce or support?

The funded work is intended to help generate intermediate-scale measurements using UAV-based L-band sensing. These datasets are expected to be suitable for developing, testing, calibrating, and evaluating next-generation soil moisture mapping methods, particularly methods aiming for kilometer-scale daily products.

What is meant by "intermediate-scale" measurements in this context?

Based on the description, "intermediate-scale" refers to observations that are more spatially continuous than ground point networks and higher resolution than common satellite soil moisture products, collected over targeted areas using a UAV platform.

What are the practical applications or benefits of improved soil moisture heterogeneity mapping?

The notice links improved soil moisture mapping to several applications, including drought monitoring, runoff and flood forecasting, agricultural water management, and watershed-scale hydrologic modeling.

Is this award part of a specific partnership program?

Yes. The award is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESUs are collaborative networks designed to support research, technical assistance, and education through partnerships among federal agencies and non-federal institutions.

What does it mean that this is a CESU cooperative agreement?

It means the award is structured as a partnership-oriented cooperative agreement rather than a traditional grant with minimal agency involvement. It is intended to be conducted within the CESU framework, which emphasizes collaboration among federal and non-federal partners.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to applicants that are a participating partner in the Chesapeake Watershed CESU Program.

What is the issuing agency?

The issuing agency is the Geological Survey (USGS).

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808.

What is the activity category for this funding?

The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, indicating that it aligns with applied research and development rather than service delivery or infrastructure procurement.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed in the notice is $320,000.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posting (creation) date is 2024-11-04. The original closing date is 2024-12-04.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The listing notes expected awards, but the exact number of anticipated awards is not clearly stated in the provided information.

What kind of organization is USGS looking for under this opportunity?

USGS is seeking a CESU-affiliated research partner capable of conducting UAV-based L-band soil moisture observation work that directly supports NGWOS goals for more accurate and more spatially representative soil moisture maps at scales useful for watershed science and water resources decision-making.

What is the overall purpose of the funded research in plain terms?

In practical terms, the purpose is to improve how soil moisture is observed and mapped across landscapes by creating and using UAV-based L-band datasets that help close the gap between coarse satellite coverage and highly localized ground sensors, ultimately supporting better soil moisture mapping methods.