RFP Background
The West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) is requesting proposals for research expected to be funded March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2023. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Department of the Interior, will sponsor the research. Faculty from all West Virginia colleges and universities are encouraged to submit proposals. Funding selected proposals is dependent upon the availability of funds. It is expected that 3-5 projects will be funded in the range of $10,000 – $40,000 each. It is expected that approximately $125,000 will be available for new projects in 2022.Area of Emphasis/Research Priorities for the State of West Virginia
Drinking Water Protection
- Bacteria (E.coli and fecal coliform)
- Stream flows: creation of stream flow network for non-USGS gauged streams
Mineral Extraction and Water Quality Compliance
- TDS management
- Watershed restoration
- Potomac River: Controlling phosphates from Combined Agricultural Feeding Operations
- Mine Pool Management to prevent uncontrolled flooding
Biologicals
- Fresh water mussels
- TDS effects on the Big Sandy and Guyandotte Crayfish
Economics
- Determine economic benefits from watershed restoration
Flooding
- Flooding and dam safety
- Flood prediction
- Climate change resiliency for water infrastructure
Policy options proven to protect water resources that could help WV
- Data to support policy options
Outreach and Education
- Watershed health
- Citizen monitoring
- Establishing resources and providing technical assistance to water treatment plant operators
Other Criteria for Funding Consideration
It is important that proposed projects have assistant professors early in their careers on the project (preferably as the PI), the potential for generating peer-reviewed publications, student training, and information transfer. Research in social sciences and information transfer activities may also be supported. Proposals that focus on preliminary explorations of innovative research areas will receive special consideration.
Projects that contain one or more of the following will be given higher consideration for funding:
- Use of existing data that results in acceptance of a paper by a peer-review journal for publication as a project deliverable will be given higher consideration.
- The principal investigator is an entry level, junior, assistant professor.
- One or more students, undergraduate or graduate, are engaged in the project.
Proposals under this announcement must be submitted to the WVWRI in pdf format to: wvwri@mail.wvu.edu by 5:00 pm October 15th, 2021. Please include USGS104b in the subject line.
Eligibility Requirements
Applications will be accepted only from Institutes or Centers established pursuant to the provisions of Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended. The applicant may consider project proposals only from faculty members or affiliates at institutions of higher education in its State. Therefore, eligible applicants are faculty members or affiliates at institutions of higher education in the State of West Virginia.