Program Overview

Planning Assistance to States and Tribes
Section 22 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1974

What the Corps of Engineers Can Do:
Typical studies are only planning level of detail; they do not include detailed design for project construction and do not include any construction funding.  The studies generally involve the analysis of existing data for planning purposes, using standard engineering techniques, although some data collection is often necessary.  Most studies become the basis for state, tribal, and local planning decisions.

Funding:
Federal allocations for each state or tribe are limited to $500,000 of federal funds annually, but typically studies are much less.  Individual states, of which there may be more than one per state or tribe per year, generally range in cost from $25,000 to more than $100,000.  These studies are cost-shared on a percent federal and 50 percent non-federal basis.

Typical Studies:
The program can encompass many types of studies dealing with water resource issues.  Types of studies conducted in recent years under the program include:

  • Water Supply and Demand
  • Water Quality
  • Environmental Conservation
  • Environmental Restoration
  • Wetland Evolution
  • Dam Safety and Failure
  • Flood Risk Management
  • Floodplain Management
  • Land Use
  • Master Planning
  • Economics
  • GIS Development