Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, National Ground-Water Monitoring Network

The Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program of the USGS is offering a cooperative agreement funding opportunity to States, federally recognized Native American Tribal governments, or local water-resources agencies that collect groundwater data to participate in the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network. The USGS is working to develop and administer the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). This funding opportunity is to support data providers for the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network.Legal authority for this opportunity is provided under Public Law 111-11, Subtitle F—Secure Water: Section 9507 "Water Data Enhancement by the United States Geological Survey," as amended in 2024 by Public Law 118-174. Funds will be used to support connecting new data providers to the Network and to support existing data providers to maintain persistent data service and to enhance the NGWMN.The funding available for this Program Announcement is expected to be up to $900,000 for Federal FY2026. This estimate does not bind the USGS to a specific number of awards or to the amount of any individual award. Congress has not yet provided full-year FY2026 funding for USGS, so awards cannot be made until that funding is appropriated. Work performance under these awards must be completed within the two-year cycle from the start date. The timing of funds availability and the signing of the award will determine the start date. Individual applications are restricted to a funding level of $150,000 for a one-year project or $300,000 for a two-year project. Funding for routine work under Objective 2A to maintain persistent data services is limited to $20,000 per year. However, agencies serving more than 500 sites can apply for up to $40,000 per year for Objective 2A work. Substantial involvement of the USGS is anticipated to provide support to new data providers during the site selection and classification process and to establish web services that interact with the NGWMN Data Portal. USGS will provide guidance to existing data providers on techniques for collection of site information, on well maintenance activities, and on well drilling to support development of the NGWMN. Therefore, these awards will be in the form of cooperative agreements.All projects must propose a start date between September 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026.Please see Program Overview for more details.