Opportunity Information: Apply for R16 NOI DO 004
This grant opportunity, titled "Ephemeral Tributary Sediment Transport Measurement," is a Bureau of Reclamation research project focused on a persistent practical problem in river and watershed management: figuring out how much sediment ungagged, short-lived (ephemeral) tributary flows deliver during storm events. Ephemeral channels can stay dry for long stretches and then move large amounts of water and sediment very quickly when storms hit, which makes traditional monitoring difficult, expensive, and easy to miss. The central goal of the project is to pair direct, physical measurements of sediment flux (the definitive measurements) with lower-cost "surrogate" measurements collected at the same time, then determine whether those surrogate signals can reliably predict sediment transport.
The work is designed to answer two closely related questions. First, which surrogate measurements are actually worth collecting in an ephemeral setting to explain or predict sediment flux, especially bed load transport that is notoriously hard to measure? Second, can those surrogate measurements be turned into a usable relationship or calibration that practitioners can apply during storms to estimate sediment delivery without having to deploy intensive sampling methods every time? If successful, the outcome would be a practical, relatively inexpensive approach for estimating sediment movement in similar ungagged tributaries, improving storm-event sediment delivery estimates that matter for channel stability, reservoir sedimentation, habitat, and infrastructure planning.
The project site specified for this research is the Arroyo de los Pinos, an ephemeral channel on the west side of the Rio Grande across from Socorro, New Mexico. The opportunity references the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in connection with the work, indicating the research setting and likely local expertise involved. The funding is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Bureau of Reclamation would typically have substantial involvement during the project, such as collaboration on technical approach, data needs, or interpretation.
Administratively, this was a discretionary science and technology research and development opportunity under CFDA 15.560. The funding opportunity number is R16 NOI DO 004. It anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $72,000. The original closing date for applications was December 18, 2015, and the opportunity was created on December 3, 2015. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others," which usually signals that eligibility may extend beyond standard categories (such as state or local governments) but would still be governed by the full funding notice terms.
In plain terms, the opportunity is about building a bridge between high-confidence sediment measurements and cheaper monitoring signals in a challenging ephemeral tributary environment. The practical payoff, if the calibration works, is a toolset for estimating sediment transport during brief storm-driven flows when conventional gauging and sampling are difficult to deploy and maintain.Apply for R16 NOI DO 004
- The Bureau of Reclamation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ephemeral Tributary Sediment Transport Measurement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2015-12-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-12-18. (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 $72,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Ephemeral Tributary Sediment Transport Measurement".
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The project is offered by the Bureau of Reclamation as a science and technology research effort.
What practical problem is this research trying to solve?
The project targets a persistent challenge in river and watershed management: estimating how much sediment is delivered by ungagged, short-lived (ephemeral) tributary flows during storm events. These channels can be dry for long periods and then rapidly move water and sediment when storms occur, making conventional monitoring easy to miss and expensive to maintain.
What is an "ephemeral" tributary channel in the context of this opportunity?
In this opportunity, an ephemeral tributary is described as a channel that can remain dry for extended stretches and then experience brief, storm-driven flows that can transport large amounts of sediment in a short time window.
What is the central goal of the project?
The central goal is to pair direct, physical measurements of sediment flux (treated as the definitive measurements) with lower-cost surrogate measurements collected at the same time, and then evaluate whether those surrogate signals can reliably predict sediment transport.
What is meant by "sediment flux" here?
Within the description provided, sediment flux refers to how much sediment is being transported by flow. The project is focused on measuring it directly and also estimating it using surrogate signals.
What are "surrogate" measurements?
Surrogate measurements are described as lower-cost monitoring signals collected alongside direct sediment measurements, with the intent of determining whether the surrogates can be used to explain or predict sediment transport during storm events.
What two main questions is the project designed to answer?
The work is designed to answer two closely related questions:
- Which surrogate measurements are worth collecting in an ephemeral setting to explain or predict sediment flux, with particular attention to bed load transport.
- Whether those surrogate measurements can be calibrated into a usable relationship that practitioners can apply during storms to estimate sediment delivery without intensive sampling each time.
Why does the opportunity emphasize bed load transport?
The opportunity highlights bed load transport because it is described as notoriously hard to measure, especially in ephemeral storm-event conditions where flows are brief and difficult to capture with traditional methods.
What is the intended outcome or deliverable in practical terms?
If the surrogate-to-sediment calibration works, the intended outcome is a practical, relatively inexpensive approach that can be used to estimate sediment movement in similar ungagged tributaries during storm events.
How would successful results be used by practitioners?
Successful results would support a toolset or calibrated relationship that practitioners could use during storms to estimate sediment delivery using surrogate signals, reducing the need to deploy intensive direct measurement methods every time an event occurs.
Why is storm-event monitoring a major focus?
The opportunity is focused on storm events because ephemeral channels can move large amounts of water and sediment very quickly when storms hit, and those brief windows are when sediment delivery can be highest but also easiest to miss.
Where is the specified project site located?
The specified site is the Arroyo de los Pinos, an ephemeral channel on the west side of the Rio Grande across from Socorro, New Mexico.
Is a specific institution referenced in connection with the work?
Yes. The opportunity references the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in connection with the work, indicating the research setting and likely local expertise involved.
What funding mechanism is used for this award?
The funding is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Bureau of Reclamation would have substantial involvement during the project (for example, collaboration on technical approach, data needs, and/or interpretation).
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (as described here)?
Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement implies more direct federal participation than a standard grant, with Bureau of Reclamation involvement such as technical collaboration and input on data and interpretation.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.560.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is R16 NOI DO 004.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for the anticipated single award is $72,000.
When was the opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on December 3, 2015, and the original closing date for applications was December 18, 2015.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others". The description notes that this usually signals eligibility may extend beyond standard categories (such as state or local governments), but would still be governed by the full terms of the funding notice.
What kinds of management decisions could better sediment estimates support?
The opportunity notes that improved storm-event sediment delivery estimates matter for channel stability, reservoir sedimentation, habitat, and infrastructure planning.
Why is this research framed as building a "bridge" between measurement types?
It is framed that way because the project aims to connect high-confidence, direct sediment measurements with cheaper surrogate signals, so that future sediment estimates can be made more efficiently during brief storm flows.
Does the description indicate this is a discretionary program?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary science and technology research and development opportunity.
Is this opportunity focused on ungagged tributaries?
Yes. A core motivation is improving sediment estimates for ungagged ephemeral tributaries where traditional gauging and sampling are difficult to deploy and maintain.
What is the main value proposition for using surrogates instead of direct sampling every time?
The main value proposition described is reducing cost and logistical burden while still producing usable storm-event sediment estimates, by relying on surrogate signals that have been calibrated against definitive, physical sediment flux measurements.
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