USGS 104(b) Grant Program
About the US Geological Survey 104(b) Competitive Grants Program
Section 104(b) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 authorized the formation of water research institutes in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam. These 54 institutes are known as the National Institutes for Water Resources.
Each state receives funding from the US Geological Survey to support, coordinate and facilitate water research. Each year, the AWRC solicits research proposals as part of the 104(b) Program. With guidance from the Technical Advisory Committee, the Center typically awards multiple larger faculty grants as well as smaller supplemental grants for graduate student research.
USGS 104(g) National Competitive Grants Request for Proposals
104(g) Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
104(g) Aquatic Invasive Species (limited to Upper Mississippi River Basin projects)
Award: Up to $309,000 - $346,875 over 3 years
Eligibility: Any investigator at an accredited institution of higher learning in Arkansas (must apply through the AWRC)
Deadline to Apply: September 30, 2025
Applications due to AWRC at least 2 wks prior to deadline.
Notify the AWRC immediately of intent to apply.
Access a recording of the informational webinar and the presentation slides here.
Questions? Contact the Program Manager at egrantz@uark.edu or 479-575-7192.
Current (FY2023) 104(b) Projects
The Arkansas Water Resources Center funded five faculty-led projects. Projects were selected through external peer review by the Technical Advisory Committee.
Faculty Research Projects:
Monitoring Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Central Arkansas water systems
Gunnar Boysen, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Development of On-Site Fluorescence PFAS Sensors
Lei Guo, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Influence of phytoplankton stoichiometry on the production of secondary metabolites in a central Arkansas reservoir
Hal Halvorson and Felicia Osburn, University of Central Arkansas
Investigating Electrocoagulation as a Pretreatment for the Nanofiltration of Cyanotoxin-Contaminated Water Sources
Ranil Wickramasinghe, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Identifying Genetic Markers for Microcystin-Producing Algal Blooms
Wen Zhang, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Monitoring Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Central Arkansas water systems
Gunnar Boysen, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Development of On-Site Fluorescence PFAS Sensors
Lei Guo, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Influence of phytoplankton stoichiometry on the production of secondary metabolites in a central Arkansas reservoir
Hal Halvorson and Felicia Osburn, University of Central Arkansas
Investigating Electrocoagulation as a Pretreatment for the Nanofiltration of Cyanotoxin-Contaminated Water Sources
Ranil Wickramasinghe, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Identifying Genetic Markers for Microcystin-Producing Algal Blooms
Wen Zhang, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Past 104(b) Projects (FY2023)
Faculty Research Projects
Application of functional gene array technology to understanding biogeochemical processes in small reservoirs across a nutrient and land use gradient
Erik Pollock, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Quantifying Watershed-Scale Responses to Conservation in Three Agricultural Watersheds Dominated by Poultry and Pasture-Raised Livestock Production
Shannon Speir, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Drought Patterns and Trends in Arkansas, USA, from 1985 to 2021
Hamdi Zurquani, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Application of functional gene array technology to understanding biogeochemical processes in small reservoirs across a nutrient and land use gradient
Erik Pollock, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Quantifying Watershed-Scale Responses to Conservation in Three Agricultural Watersheds Dominated by Poultry and Pasture-Raised Livestock Production
Shannon Speir, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Drought Patterns and Trends in Arkansas, USA, from 1985 to 2021
Hamdi Zurquani, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Student Projects with Faculty Adviser:
Nanofiltration for the removal of harmful algal toxins from Lake Fayetteville
Thomas McKean and Ranil Wickramasinghe, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Reuse Water
Celestene Sebag and Wen Zhang, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Nanofiltration for the removal of harmful algal toxins from Lake Fayetteville
Thomas McKean and Ranil Wickramasinghe, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Reuse Water
Celestene Sebag and Wen Zhang, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville