(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.

(b) The types of research to be undertaken under this program are listed below, without indication of priority:

(1) Aspects of the hydrologic cycle;

(2) Supply and demand for water;

(3) Demineralization of saline and other impaired waters;

(4) Conservation and best use of available supplies of water and methods of increasing such supplies;

(5) Water reuse;

(6) Depletion and degradation of groundwater supplies;

(7) Improvements in the productivity of water when used for agricultural, municipal, and commercial purposes; and

(8) The economic, legal, engineering, social, recreational, biological, geographic, ecological, and other aspects of water problems.

(9) Scientific information-dissemination activities, including identifying, assembling, and interpreting the results of scientific and engineering research on water-resources problems.

(10) Providing means for improved communications of research results, having due regard for the varying conditions and needs for the respective States and regions.

(a) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Water-Resources Technology Development Program will provide funds in the form of grants or contracts to educational institutions, private firms, private foundations, individuals, and agencies of local or State governments for technology development concerning any aspect of water-related technology deemed to be of State, regional, and national importance, including technology associated with improvement of waters of impaired quality and the operation of test facilities. Federal agencies are excluded from receiving grants or contracts. The types of technology-development to be undertaken under this program shall include paragraphs 1 through 10 of § 402.6(b).

(b) The USGS may establish any condition for the matching of funds by the recipient of any grant or cost-sharing under a contract under the technology-development program which the USGS considers to be in the best interest of the Nation.