Water, Landscape, and Critical Zone Processes (WaLCZ)

Developing managed aquifer recharge techniques (MAR) in a rural context is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: farmers have access to water supply from managed aquifer recharge systems and to appropriate business models to cope with longer and more intense periods of water scarcity due to climate change, while preserving the good status of ground water bodies; water ecosystems are healthier and more resilient to climate change, and water related ecosystem services are protected and strengthened, while water resilience of farming systems is increased; policy makers are provided with improved insights on mechanisms and instruments to improve the water resilience of the agricultural sector to cope with climate change effects. Scope: Droughts in the EU are increasing in frequency, magnitude and impact, and the affected area is expanding. Water storage systems can limit abstractions from surface waters and groundwater reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture and food systems, and bring the demand and supply of water better in balance, strengthening the resilience of EU agriculture. Proposals should: extend, improve and customize managed aquifer recharge (MAR) techniques at farm, basin and catchment level, covering most representative EU agricultural contexts in view of climate change; develop a methodology to help assessing the most suitable location or situations to implement these MAR techniques and validate with a representative sample of case-study regions, taking into account for the differential impact of climate change; develop a user-friendly monitoring, reporting and verification system (MRV) to follow the impact on ground water quality and quantity, as well as associated water ecosystems and dependent terrestrial ecosystems; evaluate the potential impact and sustainability of managed aquifer recharge techniques in rural areas, including on the groundwater ecosystems, associated water ecosystems and dependent terrestrial ecosystems, and drinking water from a multi-objective approach, and its integration with evidence-based engineered and Nature-based Solutions to reduce runoff, soil erosion and improve landscape climatic resilience; calculate the cost-benefits of MAR techniques and propose different business models for the compensation or remuneration of individual farmers or land managers (payments schemes, nature, carbon or water credits, …) for hosting MAR initiatives; demonstrate the feasibility of these business models at local level (catchment, river basin, ...) by at least 2 case studies in different pedoclimatic zones and evaluate the possible barriers for adoption by farmers or land managers; provide a framework of governance models that could fit the different local socio-economic, regulatory and pedo-climatic conditions. The actions funded under this topic are relevant to the EU policies related to the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, as well as to the European Water Resilience Strategy and the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy. Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach and ensure adequate involvement of relevant stakeholders, including farmers, land managers, water governance bodies and local authorities. Proposals are encouraged to build on the results of relevant projects funded under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe and ensure collaboration with relevant ongoing and forthcoming projects from the Mission Soil and the Mission Ocean & Waters. Proposals should follow the Guidance document on managed aquifer recharge techniques of the CIS Working Group on Groundwater [1] . Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. [1] Common implementation strategy for the water framework directive and the floods directive: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/e827bbe4-fe33-11ef-b7db-01aa75ed71a1/language-en Programme areas: Horizon Europe (HORIZON), Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Areas Keywords: Business analysis, Business governance, Business models, Catchment scale planning, Environmental engineering and geotechnics, Environmental impact assessment, Human impacts and other stressors, Hydrology (Water science), Natural resources and environmental economics, Nature-based solutions, Water management, Water recycling and re-use, Water technology, MAR, MRV, business model, climate adaptation, drought, groundwater, impact analysis, managed aquifer recharge, monitoring, reporting and verification system, multi-actor approach, nature-based solutions, sustainable agriculture, water ecosystem, water management, water resilience, water storage

Forest Legacy Program Capacity and Project Development 2026 is sponsored by Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. CAL FIRE’s Forest Legacy Program funds landscape-scale conservation projects intended to conserve working forests and working forested landscapes. This solicitation aims to increase organizational capacity for eligible applicants and support the development of high-quality forest conservation projects. Funding for this solicitation is limited to the preparation and development of potential future projects. Eligible Activities: Future Projects - Funding for Forest Legacy Grant Due Diligence: Grant funds can be requested to prepare and develop future working forest conservation easement or fee acquisition projects for completion under a Federal OR State Grant. These will be referred to as “Future Projects” throughout the grant guide. The actual transactions for these Future Projects will need to be prepared and submitted for Federal or State Forest Legacy Funding at a future date, for either Forest Legacy solicitations, or solicitations to other federal or state conservation programs. Projects receiving funding under this grant line item are not guaranteed Federal or State Forest Legacy funding for projects in the future. Future Projects can include costs for preparing the following: Market analysis or restricted use appraisal for Future Projects in development; Preliminary title report and any associated documents listed in that report (deed, easements, MOUs), as well as the costs to remove exceptions; Minerals Remoteness Report or statement; Land survey with acreage and Description verification; Mapping products / GIS; Development and negotiation of Conservation Easement (CE) Deed (if not acquiring in fee); CE Baseline Document (if not acquiring in fee); Phase 1 Environmental Assessment; Forest Management Plan, Agricultural Management Plan and/or Grazing Management Plan; Soliciting and developing potential FLP projects; Organizational staff time associated with preparation of the above mentioned documents or general work towards completion of the project; Salaries, fringe benefits, travel and supplies that directly support the FLP; Facilitating the donation of lands or interests of lands into the FLP. Eligible Applicants: These can include, but are not limited to; nonprofits, land trusts, and conservation organizations. This program will not grant funding to a private person, business or other private entity to hold ownership of these interests (fee title or CE) using State funds. Any applicant not eligible to hold a Land Conservation Easement shall specify the intended Land Conservation Easement organization within the application. Eligible Lands are: Land that can support 10-percent native tree cover of any species, including hardwoods, under natural conditions, and has a minimum of 75 percent forestland or a documented plan that includes sufficient landowner capacity to reforest to at least 75 percent forestland. The land should allow for management of one or more forest resources, including timber, grazing, aesthetics, fish and wildlife, biodiversity, water quality, recreation, and other public benefits. Eligible Costs: The following costs are eligible for reimbursement: Future Projects – Due Diligence for Future Forest Legacy Project (a) The development and due diligence costs for future conservation easement or fee acquisition projects as stated above under Future Projects.