30 CFR §402.6

1. (a)Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Water-Resources Research Program will provide support, in the form of a dollar-for-dollar matching grant, to educational institutions, private foundations, private firms, individuals, and agencies of local or State governments for research concerning any aspect of a water-resource related problem deemed to be in the national interest. Federal agencies are excluded from receiving matching grants. Grants may be awarded on other than a dollar-for-dollar matching basis in cases where the USGS determines that research on a high-priority subject is of a basic nature that otherwise would not be undertaken.
2. (b)The types of research to be undertaken under this program are listed below, without indication of priority:
   1. (1)Aspects of the hydrologic cycle;
   2. (2)Supply and demand for water;
   3. (3)Demineralization of saline and other impaired waters;
   4. (4)Conservation and best use of available supplies of water and methods of increasing such supplies;
   5. (5)Water reuse;
   6. (6)Depletion and degradation of groundwater supplies;
   7. (7)Improvements in the productivity of water when used for agricultural, municipal, and commercial purposes; and
   8. (8)The economic, legal, engineering, social, recreational, biological, geographic, ecological, and other aspects of water problems.
   9. (9)Scientific information-dissemination activities, including identifying, assembling, and interpreting the results of scientific and engineering research on water-resources problems.
   10. (10)Providing means for improved communications of research results, having due regard for the varying conditions and needs for the respective States and regions.