The Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), in federal-state partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 104(b) program, is requesting pre-proposals for the FY2027–2028 competitive grants program. This funding opportunity supports research, engagement, and information transfer projects that address real-world water resource issues across North Carolina.

Projects may address research questions and methods in social science, education, communications, natural science, engineering, economics, policy, or multidisciplinary combinations as applied to statewide water challenges. Meaningful public engagement, extension activities, and community collaboration are strongly encouraged.

This competition uses a two-stage application process starting with a concise, 3-page pre-proposal designed to allow researchers to convey project ideas with minimal upfront effort. WRRI anticipates inviting approximately 50% of pre-proposal teams to submit full proposals.

An informational webinar will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET.

Research Focus Areas

Submitted pre-proposals must align with one or more of the following core focus areas:

• Non-Point Source & Stormwater Management: Watershed restoration and ecology, stormwater control practices and maintenance, public education, and innovative pollutant tracking/reduction techniques.
• Drinking Water, Wastewater, & Water Infrastructure: Utility affordability, PFAS treatment/transport, emerging contaminants (microplastics, TFA, pathogens), source water resiliency, AI applications for utilities, and capacity-expanding treatment innovations.
• Surface & Groundwater Quality & Quantity: Contaminant fate and transport (PFAS, 1,4-dioxane), water quantity and resiliency, harmful algal bloom (HAB) management, and reservoir sedimentation.
• Water Resources & Watershed Management: Integrated water planning (One Water), storm and flood resiliency, land-use/development impacts on watershed health, and agricultural best management practices (BMPs).

Eligibility & Requirements

• Eligible Applicants: Faculty and university affiliates with research appointments at accredited public or private colleges and universities in North Carolina. Industry and private entities cannot apply directly, but may partner with university researchers.
• Submission Limits: An individual may be listed as an investigator on a maximum of two pre-proposals and serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on only one.
• Early-Career & Collaboration: Early-career PIs, inter-institutional collaborations, and agency partnerships are strongly encouraged.
• Past Performance: Researchers with past-due reports or incomplete studies funded through WRRI without an approved no-cost extension are ineligible to serve as PI or Co-PI.
• Ineligible Projects: Projects focused solely on routine monitoring, method/sensor development, literature searches, medical studies involving human subjects, or ocean-only waters are not eligible.

Key Dates

• September 17, 2026 (11:00 a.m. ET): Informational Webinar
• October 12, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET): Pre-Proposals Due via eWater
• December 7, 2026: Full Proposal Invitations Issued
• January 1, 2028: Target Project Start Date

Contact

WRRI welcomes PIs to contact staff to discuss research concepts, topic eligibility, or stakeholder engagement during proposal development:

• Kaitlin Tucker, Coordinator for Research and Engagement ([email protected])
• John Fear, Deputy Director ([email protected])
• Frank Lopez, Extension Director ([email protected])