OVERVIEW OF THE NEW U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY COOPERATIVE LANDSLIDE HAZARD MAPPING AND ASSESSMENT GRANT PROGRAM

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landslide Hazards Program administers competitive grants that provide opportunities for governments to pursue landslide risk reduction activities including communication, planning, coordination, mapping, assessments, and data collection related to landslide hazards. State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments are eligible to apply for financial assistance to reduce landslide risk within their jurisdictions. First authorized in the National Landslide Preparedness Act (Public Law 116-323) in 2021, the grant program was appropriated $1 million in 2023, and opened the first 60-day application period in April 2024. Applicants can request financial assistance up to $300,000 and select a period of performance of 12 or 24 months. Proposals are asked to focus on a range of Risk Reduction Priority Areas (RRPA) that underlie the priorities of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (Public Law 116-323), the National Strategy for Landslide Loss Reduction (USGS Open-File Report 2022–1075), and supports the mission of the Landslide Hazards Program to reduce loss of lives and property from landslides and improve public safety and community resilience of the Nation. The RRPA for the first round of landslide grants include a range of topics: 1) landslide hazards mapping and assessment (e.g., landslide inventory mapping); 2) planning and coordination (e.g., building a city landside emergency response plan) and 3) education and outreach (e.g., landslide educational material for the public). The RRPA can be modified to support a broad range of potential topics such as reflecting advances in science, working with underserved communities, etc. The grant program is funded for a second year and the open application period is expected to begin in autumn 2024 for projects starting in summer 2025. This presentation introduces and provides an overview of the grant program to government entities interested in reducing landslide risk in their communities.