Analysis and Evaluation of Water Erosion Measurement of Bio-Cemented Soils for Dams and Levees Flood Mitigation

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), operating under the Department of Defense, has announced a cooperative agreement funding opportunity focused on the analysis and evaluation of water erosion measurements in bio-cemented soils. This research initiative is titled "Analysis and Evaluation of Water Erosion Measurement of Bio-Cemented Soils for Dams and Levees Flood Mitigation" and is offered under the assistance listing 12.630, which pertains to basic, applied, and advanced research in science and engineering. The total estimated funding for this opportunity is $35,000, with only one award expected. This grant is discretionary in nature and falls under the category of science and technology as well as other research and development activities. This funding opportunity is designed to support research addressing the growing challenges associated with erosion in dam and levee infrastructure, which are vital to flood control and public safety. According to recent data, erosion is the primary cause of dam failures in the United States, with 20 percent of failures attributed to this issue. This problem is especially critical given the existence of approximately 90,000 dams in the country, 17 percent of which are classified as high-hazard due to their potential for causing loss of life and significant property damage. The Army seeks to innovate beyond conventional erosion mitigation strategies through the exploration of bio-cementation technologies, particularly microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which has shown promise as a non-resource-intensive method to enhance the resilience of earth embankments. The objective of this program is to assess MICP-treated soils for their potential to improve erosion resistance, especially in the context of older earth embankments overseen by the Army. Applicants are expected to contribute specialized knowledge in measuring water erosion in bio-cemented soils and must be capable of analyzing data from field samples. Successful applicants will also provide technical expertise that can inform peer-reviewed publication and contribute to future validation and demonstration efforts in Army-managed infrastructure projects. The program is not only focused on enhancing technical understanding but also offers broader public benefits, such as improving the structural integrity of flood control systems and reducing carbon emissions through innovative soil stabilization techniques. Eligibility for this grant is restricted to non-federal partners of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU). This stipulation limits the applicant pool to institutions or organizations with existing CESU partnerships, which are generally composed of universities, non-profit research institutions, and other qualified entities that have formalized agreements under this cooperative research framework. The ERDC is specifically looking for collaborators who can apply existing state-of-the-art knowledge in biocementation to support ongoing military infrastructure resilience efforts. The application process is currently open, with a posted date of July 16, 2025. The closing date for applications is September 2, 2025. There are no pre-application or letter of intent deadlines mentioned in the opportunity, and the grant is not offered on a rolling basis. There is also no indication that the opportunity recurs annually, so applicants are advised to submit by the listed closing date. The archive date for this notice is December 31, 2025. Applicants needing further information or experiencing difficulties accessing the full announcement may contact the designated grantor, Stacy Thurman, at the Engineer Research and Development Center. Contact details for Stacy Thurman are not explicitly listed in the source but are expected to be accessible through the grants.gov interface if needed.