- Reclamation
- R&D
Featured Resources
About R&D
The Research and Development Office (R&D) applies science and technology to advance the agency’s mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.
R&D's two programs, Science and Technology (S&T) and Desalination and Water Purification Research (DWPR), address the technical obstacles related to our mission. Research authorization is conducted under the Reclamation Act of 1902 (PDF, 5.6 MB) and the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (PDF, 2.7 MB).
Science and Technology Program - AWARD
Reclamation Awards $4.2 Million for Science and Technology Innovations
(October 15, 2024) The Bureau of Reclamation today announced an award of $4.2 million for 31 new science and technology research projects. The projects garnered an additional $11.2 million in matching cost-share funds. Projects were wide ranging from ways to safely eliminate invasive mussels in reservoirs to utilizing robotic crawlers to inspect buried or encased metallic pipe minimizing risks to staff.
"To tackle the complex challenges of managing water and generating power in the West, we must leverage our internal expertise and experience,” said Research and Development Program Manager, Ken Nowak. “Collaborating with our dedicated managers, experts, and partners enables us to identify critical tools and development opportunities to secure a sustainable future."
Read More →
PRIZE COMPETITION - AWARD
Reclamation Awards $184,000 to Winners of Counting Every Drop Challenge
(October 3, 2024) The Bureau of Reclamation announced the winners of the Counting Every Drop Challenge today. The three winning teams, PMASS, Rahavi Brothers, and PGRAWS, proposed, built, and demonstrated their ground-based precipitation measuring devices through virtual meetings. The devices were then submitted to Reclamation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service for laboratory and field testing. Read More →
Knowledge Stream Magazine
Advancing the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Reclamation
(Fall 2024) Welcome to the Fall 2024 issue of the Knowledge Stream! In this issue, we highlight activities related to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in carrying out Reclamation’s mission. AI is ubiquitous in the mainstream technology discussion – from the latest smartphone to use in big business. In this issue you’ll read about ongoing innovation activities at Reclamation that leverage AI for a range of applications – from more skillful streamflow forecasts to condition monitoring and predictive maintenance for hydropower equipment. We hope you find these articles timely given the current attention to this topic and perhaps serve as inspiration for how AI might have a role in the work you do! Read Issue →
Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program - Funding
Reclamation Awards $4.6 Million for Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program
(September 23, 2024) Reclamation awarded $4.6 million in Federal funding to five (5) projects to support the advancement of the use of snow monitoring technologies for water supply forecasting. Reclamation’s Research and Development Office sought proposals for projects that demonstrate and/or deploy technologies in emerging snow monitoring, deploy existing snow monitoring technologies in poorly monitored areas, or improve the use of snow monitoring data to enhance water supply forecasts. Projects awarded include $4.7 million in Federal funding and $4.6 million in cost-share funding, totaling over $9.2 million in investment for snow monitoring. Read More →
Project Descriptions
DWPR – NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Funding Opportunity Available
(September 11, 2024) The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking proposals to receive funding for desalination and water treatment research projects. Up to $2 million is available for entities to submit proposals for laboratory-scale and pilot-scale research projects to increase water supplies by reducing the cost, energy consumption, and environmental impacts of treating impaired or otherwise unusable waters. Applicants must submit their proposals by 4:00 p.m. MST on November 13, 2024.
View opportunity on grants.gov
Science and Technology Facilitated Adoption Program
Reclamation Invests $2 Million in Projects to Support Adoption of Promising Research
(September 4, 2024) The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a $2 million investment in nine projects and continued funding for nine ongoing multi-year projects. The funding is part of Reclamation’s Facilitated Adoption program that supports implementation of solutions to water management challenges. Projects selected include improving the accuracy of reservoir evaporation monitoring, improved safety and testing for hydropower turbine and rotor turning, 3D measurements of infrastructure and more.
Reclamation’s Science and Technology Facilitated Adoption Program provides funding for projects that have demonstrated promising solutions and successful results, helping Reclamation fulfill its mission by implementing those outcomes. The program uses Reclamation staff expertise and experience to address challenges associated with managing water and generating power in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner.
“With a rich legacy of leadership and expertise in water management, these projects build upon the pioneering efforts of innovators.” said Research and Development Program Manager, Ken Nowak. "These projects demonstrate Reclamation’s commitments to addressing challenges faced by water managers in the West with cutting-edge solutions. Read More →
Project Descriptions
KNOWLEDGE STREAM Magazine
Innovating Through Prize Competitions
(Summer 2024) In this issue we highlight updates to the Science and Technology Prize Competition Program at the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). Prize competitions use an innovative crowdsourcing technique to develop solutions to meet Reclamation’s missions. Reclamation has launched 34 competitions and awarded over $6.5M for winning solutions since the inception of the Prize Competition Program. Recently completed, on-going, and upcoming prize competitions are described. This issue also includes two new complementary tools and mechanisms to the prize competition program: technology searches and facilitated adoption. Prize competitions are complementary to traditional research while targeting Reclamation’s most persistent science and technology challenges. Read More →
DWPR – NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Pitch to Pilot Funding Opportunity Available
(May 22, 2024) The Bureau of Reclamation released a Pitch to Pilot funding opportunity through the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program. Reclamation is seeking innovative water treatment pilot projects focused on increasing water supplies by reducing the cost, energy consumption, and environmental impacts of treating impaired and otherwise unusable water. This unique funding opportunity is conducted in two-stages. Applicants are invited to submit their written research proposals by July 24, 2024, at 4 pm MDT through grants.gov. These proposals will be reviewed and the highest scoring proposals will be invited to pitch their idea to a panel of experts. Up to $300,000 per applicant is available and approximately five to six projects will be selected contingent on appropriations.
View opportunity on grants.gov
DESALINATION AND WATER PURIFICATION RESEARCH PROGRAM – FUNDING
Reclamation Announces $1.9 Million in Funding for DWPR Research Projects
(April 17, 2024) The Bureau of Reclamation’s Desalination and Water Purification Research program awarded eight projects funding totaling more than $1.9 million. Reclamation selected the projects from 80 eligible applications all submitting pioneering solutions to desalination and water treatment technologies. Recipients of the project funding have provided an additional $1.4 million of non-Federal cost share to further support these research efforts. Read More →
Visit the Desalanation and Water Purification Research ProgramProject Descriptions
SNOW WATER SUPPLY FORECASTING PROGRAM – NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Reclamation announces funding opportunity for Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program
(March 28, 2024) The Bureau of Reclamation is making a minimum of 3 million available for emerging snow monitoring technologies. Each selected project is eligible to receive between $300,000 - $999,999 and must include the implementation of aerial LiDAR snow surveys. The funding opportunity is available at www.grants.gov by searching for funding opportunity number R24AS00206. Applications are due on May 10, 2024 at 4 p.m. MDT. Read More →
KNOWLEDGE STREAM MAGAZINE
Innovation in Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Modeling
(September 2023) In this issue we highlight the Sedimentation and River Hydraulics – Two-Dimensional (SRH-2D) model. Since 2004, Reclamation has developed and maintained SRH-2D as a numerical model for simulating river and reservoir processes. The model is used for investigation of a wide range of hydraulic, eco-hydraulic and sediment issues, and for assessing management alternatives and actions. Developing and maintaining the model in-house has allowed it to be tailored to meet Reclamation’s specific needs. Beyond Reclamation, SRH-2D is also used and supported by a range of U.S. and international agencies. Read Issue →
DESALINATION AND WATER PURIFICATION RESEARCH PROGRAM – FUNDING
Reclamation announces $2.2 million in funding for Pitch to Pilot projects
(November 30, 2023) The Bureau of Reclamation chose eight recipients to receive $2.2 million in Federal funding for Desalination and Water Purification Research, Pitch to Pilot Program. This financial assistance will allow project sponsors to collaborate with Reclamation to design, construct, install and test their innovative water treatment technologies with a total of $4.0 million in combined Federal and cost share funding.
"Pilot-scale research projects are a crucial step in the water treatment technology development process," said Research and Development Program Manager, Ken Nowak. "These projects will further advance technologies needed to address nationwide water supply challenges and expand usable water supplies for communities in need." Read More →
Water Supply Forecast Rodeo - Funding
Reclamation announces $500,000 in funding for Water Supply Forecast Rodeo
WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation is launching a Water Supply Forecast Rodeo prize competition to spur innovation and advancements in methods for seasonal water supply prediction. Water supply forecasts are crucial for effective water resource management in the Western U.S. Improved forecast accuracy will help water managers mitigate the impacts of drought, improve hydropower generation, and meet environmental targets. Read More →
Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program - Funding
Reclamation awards $11 million for Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program
Reclamation is awarding $11 million in Federal funding to 15 projects to support the advancement of the use of snow monitoring technologies for water supply forecasting. Reclamation’s Research and Development Office sought proposals for projects that demonstrate and/or deploy technologies in emerging snow monitoring, deploy existing snow monitoring technologies in underserved areas, or improve the use of snow monitoring data to enhance water supply forecasts. Projects awarded include $11 million in Federal funding and $6.2 million in cost share funding, totaling over $17 million in investment for snow monitoring. Read More →
Project Descriptions
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM – FUNDING
Update: Reclamation invests $3.3 million in Science and Technology Development projects
(June 20, 2024) Update: On April 2nd, the Bureau of Reclamation invested $1 million in 10 additional projects for fiscal year 2024. For more information, please see the attached project descriptions.
(September 28, 2023) The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a $2.3 million investment in 25 new science and technology development projects and 118 continuing multiyear projects.
The Science and Technology Program provides funding within Reclamation for projects and technology development utilizing internal expertise and experience to address Reclamation challenges associated with managing water and generating power in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner in the American West.
“Reclamation has a long history of leadership and expertise on technical water management subjects," said Research and Development Program Manager, Ken Nowak. "These projects continue the legacy of Reclamation scientists and engineers bringing innovation to challenges faced by western water managers." Read More →
Visit the Science and Technology ProgramProject Descriptions
DWPR – NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Funding Opportunity Available
(September 12, 2023) The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking proposals to receive funding for desalination and water treatment research projects. Up to $2 million is available for entities to submit proposals for laboratory-scale and pilot-scale research projects to increase water supplies by reducing the cost, energy consumption, and environmental impacts of treating impaired or otherwise unusable waters. Applicants must submit their proposals by 4:00 p.m. MST on November 15, 2023.
View opportunity on grants.gov.
PRIZE COMPETITION - AWARD
Reclamation awards $25,000 for Imperfection Detection prize competition
Reclamation’s Imperfection Detection Challenge sought portable tools to non-destructively evaluate the condition of existing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite structures. Reclamation awarded Team Permittivity $25,000 for their Imperfection Detection prototype. Although the submitted prototype did not meet full award requirements, the novel approach showed good promise as a low-cost future solution. Read More →
PRIZE COMPETITION - AWARD
Reclamation awards $255,000 to winners of river modeling prize competition
The Bureau of Reclamation announced the winners of the Divide and Conquer Challenge. This challenge seeks to significantly improve the execution speed of numerical models that simulate hydraulics, sediment erosion, transport, and deposition in rivers and reservoirs. Read More →
KNOWLEDGE STREAM MAGAZINE
Collaboration Builds Reclamation GIS
(April 2023) In this issue we highlight the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the Bureau of Reclamation. GIS is a powerful data management platform used to organize and manipulate spatial information for research and operational aspects of Reclamation’s mission. GIS capabilities allow scientists, engineers, technicians, and managers to collect, analyze, interpret, and communicate data on a host of topics ranging from species surveys to infrastructure assets to hydrologic conditions. Robust data management practices and geospatial capabilities are cornerstones of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, the Open, Public, Electronic, and Necessary (OPEN) Government Data Act of 2018, and the Modernizing Access to our Public Lands (MAPLand) Act of 2022. Read Issue →
DWPR - AWARDS
Reclamation awards $4 million for new and innovative water treatment technologies
(April 25, 2023) The Bureau of Reclamation awarded funding for 15 projects under the Desalination and Water Purification Research program. The research projects are innovative solutions that seek to reduce water treatment costs and improve performance. "Developing new technologies that can treat currently unusable water will help communities worldwide," said Research and Development Program Manager Ken Nowak. "These technologies have the potential to increase water supply flexibility under the risks of climate change and drought. Read More →
Project Descriptions→DWPR – NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Pitch to Pilot Funding Opportunity Available
(April 19, 2023) The Bureau of Reclamation released a funding opportunity through its Desalination and Water Purification Research Program. Reclamation is seeking to develop innovative and disruptive new technologies or processes. This unique funding opportunity is conducted in two-stages. Applicants are invited to submit their written research proposals by June 20, 2023, at 4 pm MDT. The submitted proposals will be reviewed and the highest scoring proposals will be invited to pitch their idea to a panel of experts. Up to $300,000 per applicant is available and approximately six to eight projects will be selected contingent on appropriations.
View opportunity on grants.gov.
PRIZE COMPETITIONS – AWARD
Reclamation awards $160,000 for the Veg Out prize competition
The Bureau of Reclamation has selected phase one winners for the Veg Out prize competition seeking sustainable solutions to manage aquatic vegetation in canals. Winning ideas will share in a total prize purse of $345,000. Read More →
Notice of Funding Opportunity
Reclamation announces funding opportunity for Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program
(March 13, 2023)The Bureau of Reclamation is making up to $11.75 million available for emerging snow monitoring technologies. Each selected project is eligible to receive between $300,000 - $999,999. The funding opportunity is available at www.grants.gov by searching for funding opportunity number R23AS00079. Applications are due on May 12, 2023, at 4 p.m. MDT. Read More →
PRIZE COMPETITIONS – AWARD
Reclamation awards $110,000 for a prize competition to reduce water seeping from canals
The Bureau of Reclamation selected two winners for the Water America's Crops Challenge for their ideas to improve water delivery by reducing water seeping from canals. Read More →
PRIZE COMPETITIONS – AWARD
Reclamation awards $80,000 for improved precipitation measurement devices
(December 16, 2022) The Bureau of Reclamation selected eight solutions to each receive $10,000 and continue in the Counting Every Drop Challenge. This challenge is seeking precipitation measurement devices that are reliable, accurate, low maintenance, and able to operate in remote areas in extreme weather conditions. Read More →
Knowledge Stream Magazine
Innovation in Sustainable Reservoir Sediment Management
Welcome to the Fall 2022 issue of the Knowledge Stream! In this issue, we highlight research and innovation activities related to sustainable reservoir sediment management. Reservoirs provide a buffer to hydrologic variability both within a given year and across years, helping to reliably meet downstream demands. However, as decades go by, reservoirs are steadily losing water storage capacity, with sediment filling space once reserved for water. This presents significant challenges for reservoir operation and maintenance in addition to supply reliability impacts associated with lost storage capacity. Read Issue →
DWPR - FUNDING
Reclamation selects nine projects to receive $1.69 million to test innovative and new water treatment technologies
(November 29, 2022) The Bureau of Reclamation is providing $1.69 million to nine projects that offer innovative and novel water treatment technologies that may make previously unusable water available. The funding is being provided for the recipients to conduct pilot testing on their proposed technology.
"Reclamation has been supporting utilizing new and novel technologies for water resource development for 120 years," said Chief Engineer David Raff. "Water treatment technology is evolving rapidly, and these projects can improve and expand the accessibility to previously unusable water, especially for communities with some of the most urgent water needs". Read More →
Visit the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program →
Knowledge Stream Magazine
Drought in the West
Welcome to the Summer 2022 issue of the Knowledge Stream! In this issue, we highlight research and innovation activities related to drought in the West. As the Nation’s largest wholesaler of water and second largest producer of hydropower, drought strikes at the core of the Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) mission. Read Issue →
Reclamation invests $6.6 million for innovative water and power solutions
(September 29, 2022) The Bureau of Reclamation is investing $6.6 million in internal research for the development of innovative solutions for water and power challenges in the West. This includes funding for 21 new research projects and 120 continuing, multi-year projects.
"The projects selected will directly benefit water and power facility managers, customers, stakeholders and industry," said Senior Advisor for Research and Development Levi Brekke. "The Science and Technology Program contributed to many of the tools and capabilities that western water managers use today." Read More →
Visit the Science and Technology Program
DWPR: NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Funding Opportunity Available
(September 13, 2022) The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking proposals to receive funding for desalination and water reuse research projects. Up to $2 million is available for entities to submit proposals for laboratory-scale and pilot-scale research projects to increase water supplies by reducing the cost, energy consumption, and environmental impacts of treating impaired or otherwise unusable waters. Applicants must submit their proposals by 4:00 p.m. MST on November 30, 2022. Read More →
Funding Opporunity at Grants.gov.
Knowledge Stream Magazine
Innovation at Reclamation – Research & Development Office Overview
Welcome to the Spring 2022 issue of the Knowledge Stream! In this issue, we provide an overview of Research and Development (R&D) Office and Programs. As the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) carries out its mission, a variety of scientific and technical challenges are encountered that benefit from innovation activities. The R&D Office invests in such innovation through the Desalination and Water Purification Research (DWPR) Program and the Science and Technology (S&T) Program, both of which help to advance Reclamation’s technical abilities to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner. Additionally, the R&D Office houses several other programs: the Reclamation Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Program, the recently authorized Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program, the S&T Prize Competition Program, and the Open Water Data Program. Read Issue →
Research
Reclamation Releases Report on Emerging Technologies in Snow Monitoring
The Bureau of Reclamation, on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, is implementing the recently authorized Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program (P.L. 260-116, Sec. 1111). As part of Program framework development, a report to Congress on emerging snow measurement technologies was produced. The report describes the benefits of snow monitoring to water management and other sectors, reviews a range of snow monitoring technologies, and describes how partner agencies will coordinate to implement the Program. Read More →
Report
Technical Appendix
Factsheet
Research
Reclamation Provides $2.5 Million to Improve Snow Water Supply Forecasting
The Bureau of Reclamation is providing $2.5 million for 12 projects to advance snow measurement technology development, demonstration and application to improve water supply forecasting. Four projects will include partner contributions of $720,000. Read More →
Project Descriptions
Knowledge Stream Magazine
Water Avaliability: Monitoring and Forecasting
Welcome to the Spring 2021 issue of the Knowledge Stream. In this issue, we highlight research related to forecasting water availability. For many Reclamation Projects, springtime means rivers swollen with snowmelt. During this time, operators rely heavily on forecasts of water availability–from sub-daily streamflow forecasts to seasonal water supply forecasts.
Reclamation staff and partners are working on a range water availability monitoring, forecasting, and long-term projection activities spanning from research to applications. Read Issue →
Knowledge Stream Magazine
Big Data in Condition Monitoring
In this issue we spotlight Reclamation’s efforts to rapidly and reliably assess the conditions of its built infrastructure and natural assets to support management decisions. As technologies are rapidly advancing to support retrieval of large amounts of condition information, Reclamation is challenged to find better ways to efficiently collect, analyze and manage these large volumes of data – often coined “big data.”
Reclamation innovators are striving to make progress in various related areas, aiming to yield new tools and best practices. Read Issue →
PRIZE COMPETITIONS – Award
Reclamation moves five ideas forward in prize competition to help improve sediment removal in reservoirs
(December 10, 2020) WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation has selected five projects to each receive $75,000 through phase one of the Guardians of the Reservoir prize competition. The contest was seeking new ways to effectively and continually manage sediment in reservoirs. Read More →
Visit the Guardians of the Reservoir >>
DWPR - Awards
Reclamation awards $5.8 million to 22 laboratory and pilot-scale desalination research projects
(June 18, 2020) The Bureau of Reclamation awarded $5.8 million to 22 laboratory and pilot-scale desalination research projects to enable broader deployment of desalination and recycled water technologies. Read More →
Prize Competitions - Awards
Reclamation selects five projects in prize competition that seeks to extend the life of water infrastructure
(March 3, 2020) Five projects were selected as winners for the Bureau of Reclamation's Rust Busters Stage II, Phase 1 Prize Competition. The contest sought ideas to extend the life of water infrastructure by reducing corrosion, in particular rust, of its steel structures. These five projects will now proceed to Phase 2 of the competition. Read More →
Visit the Rust Busters Prize Competition >>
Science and Technology Program - Funding
Reclamation allocates an additional $2.8 million to develop innovative solutions for water and power management issues
(March 2, 2020) The Bureau of Reclamation is providing a total of $2.8 million in additional funds to 30 new research projects through its Science and Technology Program. This additional funding builds on the previously announced award of a total of $8.9 million for 27 new and 114 continuing projects.
“We are pleased with the variety of research projects submitted in this competition,” said Levi Brekke, Research and Development Program Manager. “These projects will lead to innovative solutions for water and power challenges in the Western United States.” Read More →
Visit the Science and Technology Program >>
Prize Competitions - Awards
Reclamation awards $75,000 for ideas that lower cost of continuous streamflow monitoring
(January 21, 2020) The Bureau of Reclamation partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey for a prize competition seeking innovative ideas to significantly reduce the cost of continuous streamflow monitoring compared to current methods while also increasing the availability of streamflow data. Accurate and reliable records from continuous streamflow monitoring stations are vital to water resources planning, design, management and research. Of the 40 potential cost-saving solutions received, five winners were selected to share a total prize pool of $75,000.
"A number of compelling ideas for continuous streamflow monitoring were received," said David Raff, Reclamation’s science advisor. "This demonstrates the continued benefit of soliciting new and novel ideas from the broader public through competitions." Read More →
Visit the Streamflow Monitoring Prize Competition >>
