Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G25AS00344

Opportunity Information: Apply for G25AS00344

This funding opportunity (G25AS00344) is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program, specifically for an affiliated partner of the Southern Appalachian CESU. The work centers on Open Evapotranspiration (OpenET), a satellite-based evapotranspiration (ET) data capability, and aims to strengthen how remote-sensing ET products are validated, applied, and ultimately integrated into hydrologic and agricultural decision-making across the southeastern United States. The underlying purpose is practical: improve confidence in ET estimates across the region's varied landscapes and use that information to better understand irrigation demand, drought conditions, and water availability, so agencies and stakeholders can make more resilient, data-driven water management decisions.

The project is designed as an independent evaluation of OpenET performance under real southeastern conditions, where factors like mixed land use, humid climate, and frequent cloud cover can complicate satellite observations. A major emphasis is on determining how accurate and reliable OpenET is across diverse land-use types and management settings, and quantifying uncertainty in a way that helps users understand when the product is dependable and when extra caution or supplemental data may be needed. The research is expected to include model intercomparison (comparing outputs from different OpenET modeling approaches), in situ validation (ground-based measurements or field observations used to check satellite estimates), and explicit uncertainty analysis, including attention to cloud-affected conditions that can degrade or limit remote sensing retrievals.

A second core focus is irrigation, with the intent of assessing whether OpenET can support real-time or near-real-time irrigation monitoring. This includes comparing OpenET-derived ET estimates against ET calculated from soil water balance methods and against modeled irrigation demand. In other words, the work is meant to test whether OpenET can help estimate how much water crops are using and how much irrigation is likely required, which is directly relevant for allocating water, planning during dry periods, and improving drought response strategies in agricultural areas.

The opportunity also targets drought monitoring improvements by integrating OpenET into higher-resolution drought indicators, especially the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Because SPEI incorporates both precipitation and atmospheric water demand (via ET or potential ET), better ET information can sharpen drought characterization, including the onset and intensification of drought. The scope explicitly mentions coupling OpenET with effective precipitation metrics, which are intended to reflect the portion of rainfall that is actually available for plant and soil water use rather than total rainfall alone. Together, these integrations are aimed at producing more meaningful, location-specific drought signals for the Southeast.

Beyond evaluation and index integration, the solicitation calls for developing applied science tools that decision-makers and practitioners can use. Examples listed include high-resolution irrigation maps and improved flash drought detection methods that leverage OpenET. This signals that the work is not only academic validation, but also translation into practical products or workflows that can be adopted by water managers, drought monitoring programs, and agricultural stakeholders to support operational planning and rapid response.

Finally, the project has a strong collaboration and capacity-building component. It seeks to expand data-sharing and stakeholder engagement by incorporating OpenET into state drought monitoring efforts and into the Southeast Drought Early Warning System (SE DEWS). The intent is to build regional capacity to use ET information consistently and to encourage collaboration around complementary datasets such as irrigation and crop data. In practice, that can mean aligning methods, improving access to datasets, and creating shared routines for bringing ET insights into drought and water resource management frameworks.

Administratively, the award is a discretionary cooperative agreement (meaning substantial USGS involvement is expected during the project rather than a hands-off grant). The funding activity category is science and technology research and development, with CFDA number 15.808. Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners of the Southern Appalachian CESU. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $495,000 and an application closing date of 2025-09-22, with the posting created on 2025-08-22.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-08-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $495,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G25AS00344

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