Opportunity Information: Apply for W912HZ 22 SOI 0022
The grant opportunity "Evaluating the Economic Implications of Low Flow Augmentation on the Ohio River" is a Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers research effort focused on understanding the economic value of river flows that are unintentionally boosted by routine releases from flood risk management reservoirs. The Corps operates more than 80 flood risk management reservoirs across the Ohio River Basin. Although these reservoirs are built and managed primarily to reduce flood damages, they also release water during normal operations in ways that can increase downstream flows. In certain periods, those releases mean the Ohio River can run higher than it would have under purely natural conditions. The Corps is interested in whether those higher flows create real, measurable benefits for communities and river users, and whether those benefits can be identified and, when possible, translated into dollar values that are not currently being captured in planning or decision-making.
The central goal is to quantify how much reservoir operations influence low flow conditions along the mainstem Ohio River and to determine whether the resulting flow augmentation produces economically meaningful benefits. The work is geographically centered on projects within the Ohio River Basin and on benefits that occur along the mainstem Ohio River, especially near the lock and dam system. At the same time, the Corps is clearly signaling that it wants methods that travel well: the analytical approach should be repeatable and broadly applicable to other reservoir-influenced river systems across the United States, not just the Ohio.
At a minimum, the study must examine benefits related to municipal wastewater treatment and water supply. The rationale is straightforward: higher river flows can dilute pollutant concentrations and potentially reduce the effort or cost required for wastewater dischargers to meet permit limits, and they can also improve the reliability and availability of source water for municipal or other withdrawals. Beyond these required topics, the Corps views it as a plus if the work also addresses other categories of river use that may benefit from augmented flows, such as industrial dischargers, navigation (for example, fewer low-water delays or constraints), hydropower (more generation hours or improved operating conditions), and recreation. The notice also encourages some consideration of climate change and how future hydrology could affect the magnitude or frequency of low-flow augmentation benefits over time.
The anticipated technical work starts with hydrology: compiling existing flow information, reconciling datasets, and creating defensible processes to address missing data or gaps. A key deliverable is a comparison between observed flows (what actually occurred with reservoir operations) and natural flows (an estimate of what would have occurred without the reservoir releases) at each mainstem Ohio River lock and dam. This comparison is to be conducted for the period from 1990 to the present, and it must include reporting of common flow statistics that can serve as the foundation for later economic calculations. In practical terms, this implies building a consistent time series framework, developing or adopting an approach to estimate the "without project" naturalized flow condition, and then summarizing how the distributions of low flows and related metrics differ between observed and naturalized scenarios.
Once the flow differences are characterized, the economic analysis phase evaluates whether those differences are large enough and frequent enough to translate into positive benefits for the targeted users. For wastewater treatment, that could involve exploring how incremental flow increases change dilution capacity, compliance risk, or treatment requirements for municipal plants, and then translating those changes into cost savings or avoided costs where feasible. For water supply, the analysis would look at whether augmented flows reduce shortages, improve intake operability, reduce the need for alternative supplies, or otherwise increase reliability, again with an emphasis on monetization when practicable. If the project expands into navigation, hydropower, recreation, or industrial dischargers, it would similarly need to link hydrologic changes to operational outcomes and then to economic value using defensible, repeatable methods.
The expected outcome is not only a set of findings for the Ohio River, but also a documented, repeatable analytical process that can be reused by the Corps and partners on other rivers where reservoir operations influence downstream low flows. The final products are expected to include a comprehensive final report, and the opportunity notes that preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication should be considered where appropriate, signaling an interest in transparency, methodological rigor, and broader scientific credibility.
Administratively, this is a discretionary opportunity with funding provided through a cooperative agreement, indicating that the Corps anticipates substantial involvement or collaboration during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.630 and categorized as science and technology and other research and development. The funding opportunity number is W912HZ 22 SOI 0022. The posting indicates a single expected award with an award ceiling of $45,000. The original announcement dates show it was created on June 2, 2022, with an original closing date of August 1, 2022. Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text, suggesting the pool may include non-federal research organizations, universities, nonprofits, or other qualified entities depending on the specific eligibility language in the official notice.Apply for W912HZ 22 SOI 0022
- The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- Corps of Engineers in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "“Evaluating the Economic Implications of Low Flow Augmentation on the Ohio River”" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 02, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 01, 2022. (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 $45,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Evaluating the Economic Implications of Low Flow Augmentation on the Ohio River."
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) research effort.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The central purpose is to quantify how USACE flood risk management reservoir operations influence low-flow conditions along the mainstem Ohio River, and to determine whether those unintentional flow increases (low flow augmentation) create economically meaningful benefits for communities and river users. A key emphasis is identifying benefits that are real, measurable, and, when possible, translatable into dollar values that are not currently captured in planning or decision-making.
What is "low flow augmentation" in the context of this opportunity?
Low flow augmentation refers to periods when routine reservoir releases made during normal operations increase downstream flows above what would have occurred under purely natural conditions, resulting in a higher Ohio River stage/flow than it would have without those reservoir releases.
Why is USACE studying this topic?
USACE operates more than 80 flood risk management reservoirs across the Ohio River Basin. While these reservoirs are primarily intended to reduce flood damages, their routine releases can unintentionally boost downstream flows. USACE wants to understand whether these higher flows generate benefits for downstream users and whether those benefits can be identified and valued economically.
Where is the work geographically focused?
The work is centered on projects within the Ohio River Basin and on benefits that occur along the mainstem Ohio River, with particular focus near the lock and dam system.
Is the work intended to be useful beyond the Ohio River?
Yes. USACE is signaling that it wants a repeatable analytical approach that is broadly applicable to other reservoir-influenced river systems across the United States, not just the Ohio River.
What benefit categories must be included at a minimum?
At a minimum, the study must examine benefits related to (1) municipal wastewater treatment and (2) water supply.
Why are municipal wastewater treatment benefits required?
Higher river flows can increase dilution capacity for discharges, which may reduce pollutant concentrations and potentially reduce the effort, cost, or compliance risk associated with meeting permit limits for municipal wastewater dischargers.
Why are water supply benefits required?
Higher flows can improve the reliability and availability of source water for municipal or other withdrawals, potentially reducing shortages, improving intake operability, or decreasing reliance on alternative supplies.
Are additional benefit categories encouraged?
Yes. USACE views it as a plus if the work also addresses other river uses that may benefit from augmented flows, including industrial dischargers, navigation (such as fewer low-water delays or constraints), hydropower (more generation hours or improved operating conditions), and recreation.
Does the opportunity mention climate change?
Yes. The notice encourages consideration of climate change and how future hydrology could affect the magnitude or frequency of low-flow augmentation benefits over time.
What are the main technical phases of the expected work?
The anticipated work begins with hydrologic analysis (data compilation, reconciliation, and gap handling), followed by an economic analysis that evaluates whether observed flow differences translate into measurable benefits for targeted users and, when feasible, converts those benefits into dollar values.
What hydrologic comparison is required?
A key deliverable is comparing observed flows (including reservoir operations) to estimated natural flows (what would have occurred without reservoir releases) at each mainstem Ohio River lock and dam.
What is the required time period for the flow analysis?
The comparison must cover the period from 1990 to the present.
What does "natural flows" mean for this project?
"Natural flows" refer to an estimate of the "without project" condition: the flows that would have occurred without the influence of reservoir releases. The project is expected to develop or adopt a defensible approach to estimate these naturalized flows.
How should missing data or gaps be handled?
The hydrology work is expected to compile existing flow information, reconcile datasets, and create defensible processes to address missing data or data gaps, supporting a consistent time-series framework.
What flow statistics are expected to be reported?
The notice calls for reporting common flow statistics that can serve as the foundation for later economic calculations. This implies summarizing how low-flow distributions and related metrics differ between observed and naturalized scenarios.
What does the economic analysis need to do after characterizing flow differences?
After quantifying differences between observed and naturalized low flows, the economic analysis evaluates whether those differences are large and frequent enough to produce positive benefits for targeted users and links hydrologic changes to operational outcomes and then to economic value using defensible, repeatable methods.
What types of wastewater-related economic benefits are contemplated?
Examples discussed include changes in dilution capacity affecting compliance risk or treatment requirements for municipal plants, with an emphasis on translating those changes into cost savings or avoided costs when feasible.
What types of water supply-related economic benefits are contemplated?
Examples discussed include whether augmented flows reduce shortages, improve intake operability, reduce the need for alternative supplies, or otherwise increase reliability, with an emphasis on monetization when practicable.
If navigation is included, what kinds of outcomes might be evaluated?
The notice suggests navigation benefits could relate to fewer low-water delays or constraints, with methods that connect flow conditions to navigation operations and associated economic value.
If hydropower is included, what kinds of outcomes might be evaluated?
The notice suggests hydropower benefits could relate to more generation hours or improved operating conditions, with analysis linking flow changes to power generation outcomes and economic value.
If recreation is included, what kinds of outcomes might be evaluated?
Recreation is listed as a potential additional benefit category, implying an evaluation of how augmented low flows may affect recreational opportunities and related economic value, if addressed in the project scope.
If industrial dischargers are included, what kinds of outcomes might be evaluated?
Industrial dischargers are listed as a possible category, implying similar dilution/compliance or operational relationships to flow, and potential valuation of resulting benefits if included.
What are the expected final products or deliverables?
Expected final products include a comprehensive final report and a documented, repeatable analytical process usable by USACE and partners on other rivers. The opportunity also indicates that preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication should be considered where appropriate.
What type of funding instrument is planned?
Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this will be a cooperative agreement?
It indicates USACE anticipates substantial involvement or collaboration during the project rather than a fully hands-off relationship.
Is this opportunity discretionary?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing provided is 12.630.
How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as science and technology and other research and development.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is W912HZ 22 SOI 0022.
How many awards are expected?
The posting indicates a single expected award.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $45,000.
When was the opportunity originally created and when did it close?
The original announcement shows it was created on June 2, 2022, with an original closing date of August 1, 2022.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the posting?
Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text of the official notice. This suggests eligibility may include non-federal research organizations, universities, nonprofits, or other qualified entities, depending on the specific eligibility language in the official posting.
What kinds of locations or sites are specifically referenced for analysis outputs?
The hydrologic comparison is specifically required at each mainstem Ohio River lock and dam, indicating the lock and dam locations are core reporting points for the flow analysis.
What is the relationship between the hydrology work and the economic work?
The hydrology work creates the foundation by quantifying how reservoir operations change low-flow conditions (observed vs. naturalized). The economic work then uses those quantified differences to assess user impacts and determine whether those changes produce benefits that can be identified and, when feasible, monetized.
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