Cyber-Infrastructure Development in Support of Real-Time Water Quality Management | BOR MP 17 N001

Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR MP 17 N001

Cyber-Infrastructure Development in Support of Real-Time Water Quality Management (BOR MP 17 N001) is a Bureau of Reclamation cooperative agreement aimed at building the technical and stakeholder-facing backbone needed to manage salinity in the San Joaquin River Basin using real-time data and forecasting rather than relying only on more traditional compliance approaches tied to Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements. The opportunity is framed around a watershed and integrated water resources management philosophy, with early work centered on managed seasonal wetlands in the Grasslands Ecological Area as a practical demonstration setting. The larger goal is to create the near-term foundation for basin-scale, real-time decision-making that can better coordinate actions across the watershed and make smarter use of the river's limited ability to assimilate salt.

A central technical focus is improving and operationalizing a forecasting and decision-support modeling system based on the Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework (WARMF), a public-domain, graphics-based watershed model that links catchments, river segments, and lakes to simulate hydrology and water quality. In the San Joaquin context, the WARMF-SJR model has already been expanded to cover the reach from Friant Dam down to the Merced River confluence and to include key tributaries (Bear Creek, Chowchilla River, Fresno River), alternative routing options (including the East-side Bypass and the Mendota Dam river segment), and an additional watershed area of roughly 2,800 square miles. Even with these upgrades, the program identifies a gap: WARMF-SJR needs a stronger framework for scenario generation and "gaming" analyses so stakeholders can explore how local operational choices ripple through the river system. This is not treated as an academic add-on; it is presented as essential for getting real-world participation, since local districts and operators need to see, in understandable terms, how their actions affect downstream salinity conditions and compliance risks.

The opportunity also emphasizes cyberinfrastructure as the practical enabler of real-time management. That includes expanding and integrating environmental sensor networks, telemetry (including radio and CDMA pathways), automated data acquisition, web-based data access, and the systems that move data reliably from dischargers and diverters into an online platform. Reclamation has been building toward this by obtaining real-time access to flow and electrical conductivity data from major east- and west-side contributors and automatically migrating those feeds into a web portal called WARMF-Online. The portal is designed to show both (1) the incoming data needed to run forecast simulations and (2) the model outputs that translate those data into actionable forecasts. A key concept here is that forecast runs are driven by overwriting certain model inputs with current stakeholder-provided measurements, so the model reflects real conditions rather than only historical or assumed patterns.

Stakeholder engagement is treated as just as important as the technology, because basin-scale salinity management depends on coordination: west-side salt loads, east-side reservoir releases, and return flows must be timed and managed to optimize the river's assimilative capacity. The program highlights Grassland Water District (GWD) as a proven proving ground and an important peer-to-peer messenger for broader adoption. Over multiple years, Reclamation has invested more than $1 million to advance real-time management concepts in GWD, while GWD itself has leveraged more than $2 million in state and federal support to build and sustain a monitoring network of over 50 stations. The district has used this network not only for salinity characterization but also to improve operational efficiency and water conservation, for example by tuning distribution and minimizing unnecessary draw from Reclamation facilities. The grant envisions this experience helping transfer real-time management practices to nearby state and federal wetland complexes within the Grasslands Ecological Area, including the Los Banos Wildlife Management Area Complex and the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

A notable deliverable approach described in the opportunity is the use of customized stakeholder dashboards within WARMF-Online. These dashboards are meant to (a) reduce friction for users by consolidating data sources into one decision-oriented view, (b) increase mutual understanding across the basin by making visible which stations and datasets matter to different parties, and (c) support specialized visual outputs (including references to "Gowdy" and "Herr" outputs) that show contributions of flow and salt load in ways non-specialists can grasp. Examples include a Lagrangian-style view of salt and flow contributions along the river for a given day, and time series displays showing who is contributing what at key compliance points such as Vernalis. The intent is to give drainage coordinators and other operators practical tools to identify major salt sources seasonally and to plan short- and long-term drainage strategies aligned with river capacity.

The five-year project goals are laid out clearly: implement what is described as the first real-time salinity management program positioned as an alternative to EPA-mandated waste discharge requirements under the existing salinity and boron TMDL; develop the enabling cyberinfrastructure (sensors, telemetry, web access, forecasting models, and access to model inputs and results); and conduct stakeholder outreach that trains and demonstrates the decision-support tools in a coordinated, basin-wide context. The public benefit statement centers on delivering a real-time water quality management and information system for the San Joaquin River Basin, with the broader implication that better forecasting and coordination can reduce conflicts, improve compliance outcomes, and support more efficient water operations.

Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement (not a standard grant), signaling substantial federal involvement during execution. Reclamation anticipates an active role through its Grants Officer Technical Representative (GOTR), including technical assistance, mentoring of recipient personnel (including students and technicians), and coordination with other Reclamation staff. Reclamation also acts as the federal liaison for transferring funding to the Regents of the University of California, Merced. The listing indicates eligibility for public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, an award ceiling of $749,679, and a single expected award.

Finally, the notice explains that the award was pursued as a single-source action based on unique qualifications. The recipient is described as a long-time California water researcher with extensive outreach experience across major institutions and deep involvement in stakeholder-driven efforts like CVSALTS and CALFED Bay-Delta initiatives. The program ties this to an education and workforce development angle through UC Merced, emphasizing student involvement and the value of having a trusted, well-connected technical leader who can bridge modeling, field systems, and stakeholder communication. The statutory authority cited is Public Law 108-361, Section 103(d)(2)(D), under the Water Supply, Reliability, and Environmental Improvement Act related to Bay-Delta program activities and meeting standards.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cyber-Infrastructure Development in Support of Real-Time Water Quality Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.533.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 02, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 16, 2017. (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 $749,679.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for BOR MP 17 N001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: