The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) funding opportunity to enhance the AquaSat dataset, a tool that facilitates remote sensing of water quality by combining satellite and in-situ data for parameters like total suspended solids, chlorophyll-a, dissolved organic carbon, and secchi disk depth. This opportunity seeks a CESU-affiliated partner within the Rocky Mountain CESU to support three primary objectives: developing an R package for AquaSat data access, adding new water quality parameters such as total nitrogen and total phosphorus, and creating a data ingestion pipeline that supports non-standardized datasets. The overarching goal is to modernize AquaSat and its associated tools, enhancing usability for a broader research community and supporting climate and water quality monitoring efforts.

The project duration is two years, with a possible one-year renewal. USGS has allocated $250,000 for FY 2025, with additional funding contingent on project performance and future availability. Eligible applicants must be members of the Rocky Mountain CESU and should submit applications through Grants.gov. Inquiries about the opportunity may be directed to Faith Graves, the designated CESU Contract Specialist.

Applications should include contact details for the principal investigator, technical contacts, and information about available project facilities and resources. The proposal narrative should encompass a statement of the research problem, project objectives, methodologies, planned deliverables, and a dissemination plan for research findings. Budget details must cover salaries, field expenses, lab analyses, equipment, and other direct costs, with a CESU-negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5%. A data management plan (DMP) of up to two pages is also required, specifying data sharing, security, and archival standards.

USGS will evaluate proposals based on their alignment with research objectives, technical approach, budget justification, and the applicant’s qualifications and past performance. Evaluations by USGS technical staff will inform the final award decision. Award recipients are required to submit annual and final technical and financial reports, including a final SF-425 form summarizing project expenditures. Publications arising from this project should acknowledge USGS support, and two copies must be sent to the Department of the Interior’s Natural Resources Library.

Award recipients must also ensure that all geospatial data meet the Federal Geospatial Data Committee standards, including compliant metadata. Payments for the project will be processed through the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system.