In her “Updates from the Rio Reimagined Ambassador” Cindi Ptak shares her insights and reflections from her work serving as a liaison between local partners and the federal government as part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership.
Funding Strategy in Real Time: Trust, Timing, and What Comes Next
Posted July 28, 2025
Still in Play: Two Urban Waters Opportunities We Are Tracking
Since my last post in April, the landscape has continued to shift. The “big, beautiful bill” brings a new wave of confirmation in policy shifts and cuts—and with it, more clarity about the scale of what’s changing. Still, Rio Reimagined (RIO) stays the course. Because what’s working isn’t speed—it’s alignment in a “slow and steady wins the race” kind of way.
As I shared in a recent interview with Jalisa Gilmore, Senior Manager of Health and Land Use Programs at Groundwork USA and Urban Waters Learning Network team member, so much of our work happens behind the scenes: the subtleties and nuance of building trust, connecting systems, and translating community priorities into something fundable may appear invisible most of the time. That means things move slowly. It can also mean preparing for opportunity that may not come. But that’s the infrastructure behind the infrastructure—the conversations, relationships, and readiness that prepares us to move when the moment arrives. That’s exactly what is happening with two Urban Waters opportunities—one RIO proposal just submitted, and one opening soon. Neither is promised! But success always lives in preparation and perseverance.
We Were Ready—But That’s Only Part of the Story
USACE Silver Jackets Program Proposal submitted.
When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finally released their FY2026 call for Silver Jackets proposals, we were technically ready: the proposal was written, our partner support was in place, and we knew the project mattered. But readiness, in our case, meant more than having a document to submit.
The reality is that RIO partners worked on this proposal for months without certainty that the opportunity would open. People gave their time and insight to build something thoughtful. We invested in the work and in the partnership.
I believe the proposal is a true reflection that investment. It lays the groundwork for a first-of-its-kind invasive species management plan for the entire Rio Reimagined corridor—a planning initiative that will connect ecological restoration to flood risk reduction, fire and drought resilience, and community-led disaster planning. It asks the questions: What is the scope of the challenge of invasive plant species in the corridor? What are the consequences of doing nothing? And what would it look like to act—together, across agencies, jurisdictions, and Native Nations?
Our proposal is also a commitment to a process that is still valuable, even when the outcomes aren’t guaranteed. What holds us together was a shared belief in the value of the work itself, and a commitment.
And the delay? It became space.
Without the pressure of an imminent deadline, we found ourselves in a different kind of rhythm with our USACE colleagues. We had more time to invest in conversations. There was room for dialogue frequently absent when working up against a deadline.
I can’t say whether this project will be funded but I’m claiming it! What I can say, without hesitation, is that the relationships we built in the process have already changed the landscape—in ways that will outlast any single award cycle. Stay tuned. Awards should be announced in November, and our work will continue.
And of course, there’s the next funding cycle. Now is the perfect time to learn more about the USACE Silver Jackets Program so you can think about taking advantage of that next Urban Waters opportunity.
What’s Next: USGS Funding Cycle Opening Soon
The USGS Urban Waters Cooperative Matching Funds Program is another program dedicated to Urban Waters activities and has supported several important projects across the RIO corridor—water-quality monitoring linked to revegetation work, post-treatment sampling near the Tres Rios facility, and other efforts that strengthen the scientific foundation for restoration and planning efforts that have been going on for years.
That kind of support reflects more than eligibility—it is also a reflection of strong relationships. When we checked in recently, USGS confirmed that the FY2026 call for proposals is expected within the next few weeks. And they want to work with our RIO partners again, so please take this as the call to action that it is!
If you’re familiar with this program, you know it moves quietly. It doesn’t come with headlines or even a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). It doesn’t have a long lead time, but it’s also easy to apply for. That’s why now is the time to start aligning internally, reaching out to USGS, and shaping your project ideas if they’re not already underway.
This program is a good fit for targeted efforts—projects that depend on credible data, ongoing monitoring, and regional coordination. It also aligns closely with the goals of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership Program, which remains a strong vehicle for this kind of work.
The call is coming. Let’s make sure we’re ready to respond. Because this opportunity has not been released, please reach out directly to our USGS RIO point of contact Jamie Macy at jpmacy@usgs.gov or reach out to me directly.
Holding Focus, Moving Forward
These two opportunities—one submitted, one emerging—don’t change the broader reality that federal funds are more constrained than they were a year ago. They’re also reminders that some programs continue to work well, especially when we meet them with commitment, substance, and alignment.
Rio Reimagined continues to be shaped by this kind of work: steady, collaborative, and built on long-term relationships. If you’re part of this network and thinking about how to engage—now’s a good time to reach out.
Let’s keep it flowing friends.
In her “Updates from the Rio Reimagined Ambassador” Cindi Ptak shares her insights and reflections from her work serving as a liaison between local partners and the federal government as part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership.
Funding Strategy in Real Time: Trust, Timing, and What Comes Next
Posted July 28, 2025
Still in Play: Two Urban Waters Opportunities We Are Tracking
Since my last post in April, the landscape has continued to shift. The “big, beautiful bill” brings a new wave of confirmation in policy shifts and cuts—and with it, more clarity about the scale of what’s changing. Still, Rio Reimagined (RIO) stays the course. Because what’s working isn’t speed—it’s alignment in a “slow and steady wins the race” kind of way.
As I shared in a recent interview with Jalisa Gilmore, Senior Manager of Health and Land Use Programs at Groundwork USA and Urban Waters Learning Network team member, so much of our work happens behind the scenes: the subtleties and nuance of building trust, connecting systems, and translating community priorities into something fundable may appear invisible most of the time. That means things move slowly. It can also mean preparing for opportunity that may not come. But that’s the infrastructure behind the infrastructure—the conversations, relationships, and readiness that prepares us to move when the moment arrives. That’s exactly what is happening with two Urban Waters opportunities—one RIO proposal just submitted, and one opening soon. Neither is promised! But success always lives in preparation and perseverance.
We Were Ready—But That’s Only Part of the Story
USACE Silver Jackets Program Proposal submitted.
When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finally released their FY2026 call for Silver Jackets proposals, we were technically ready: the proposal was written, our partner support was in place, and we knew the project mattered. But readiness, in our case, meant more than having a document to submit.
The reality is that RIO partners worked on this proposal for months without certainty that the opportunity would open. People gave their time and insight to build something thoughtful. We invested in the work and in the partnership.
I believe the proposal is a true reflection that investment. It lays the groundwork for a first-of-its-kind invasive species management plan for the entire Rio Reimagined corridor—a planning initiative that will connect ecological restoration to flood risk reduction, fire and drought resilience, and community-led disaster planning. It asks the questions: What is the scope of the challenge of invasive plant species in the corridor? What are the consequences of doing nothing? And what would it look like to act—together, across agencies, jurisdictions, and Native Nations?
Our proposal is also a commitment to a process that is still valuable, even when the outcomes aren’t guaranteed. What holds us together was a shared belief in the value of the work itself, and a commitment.
And the delay? It became space.
Without the pressure of an imminent deadline, we found ourselves in a different kind of rhythm with our USACE colleagues. We had more time to invest in conversations. There was room for dialogue frequently absent when working up against a deadline.
I can’t say whether this project will be funded but I’m claiming it! What I can say, without hesitation, is that the relationships we built in the process have already changed the landscape—in ways that will outlast any single award cycle. Stay tuned. Awards should be announced in November, and our work will continue.
And of course, there’s the next funding cycle. Now is the perfect time to learn more about the USACE Silver Jackets Program so you can think about taking advantage of that next Urban Waters opportunity.
What’s Next: USGS Funding Cycle Opening Soon
The USGS Urban Waters Cooperative Matching Funds Program is another program dedicated to Urban Waters activities and has supported several important projects across the RIO corridor—water-quality monitoring linked to revegetation work, post-treatment sampling near the Tres Rios facility, and other efforts that strengthen the scientific foundation for restoration and planning efforts that have been going on for years.
That kind of support reflects more than eligibility—it is also a reflection of strong relationships. When we checked in recently, USGS confirmed that the FY2026 call for proposals is expected within the next few weeks. And they want to work with our RIO partners again, so please take this as the call to action that it is!
If you’re familiar with this program, you know it moves quietly. It doesn’t come with headlines or even a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). It doesn’t have a long lead time, but it’s also easy to apply for. That’s why now is the time to start aligning internally, reaching out to USGS, and shaping your project ideas if they’re not already underway.
This program is a good fit for targeted efforts—projects that depend on credible data, ongoing monitoring, and regional coordination. It also aligns closely with the goals of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership Program, which remains a strong vehicle for this kind of work.
The call is coming. Let’s make sure we’re ready to respond. Because this opportunity has not been released, please reach out directly to our USGS RIO point of contact Jamie Macy at jpmacy@usgs.gov or reach out to me directly.
Holding Focus, Moving Forward
These two opportunities—one submitted, one emerging—don’t change the broader reality that federal funds are more constrained than they were a year ago. They’re also reminders that some programs continue to work well, especially when we meet them with commitment, substance, and alignment.
Rio Reimagined continues to be shaped by this kind of work: steady, collaborative, and built on long-term relationships. If you’re part of this network and thinking about how to engage—now’s a good time to reach out.
Let’s keep it flowing friends.