Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Grants
- Drought Response Program Grants
- Water and Energy Efficiency Grants
- Environmental Water Resource Grants
Drought Response Program Grants
Description: The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation can provide funding to western states to assist communities and their water utilities in:
- Developing a Drought Contingency Plan
- Paying for projects that mitigate the impacts of drought in advance of a crisis, or
- Supporting emergency response actions, including temporary construction activities
Projects selected will build long-term resilience to drought and reduce the need for emergency response actions. Projects are generally in the final design stage.
Eligibility: States, tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts; state, regional, or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and other organizations with water or power delivery authority.
Type and Cost Share: The opportunity consists of three funding groups: Funding Group 1 is up to $500,000 in federal cost-share for projects completed in two years, Funding Group 2 is up to $2 million in federal cost-share for projects completed in three years, and Funding Group 3 is up to $5 million in federal cost-share for projects completed in three years.
50% non-Federal cost share contribution is required. In limited cases, a cost-share reduction or waiver may be granted. Note that funds received by a tribe under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act may be used to meet the cost share requirement.
Application: Available on an annual basis. Contact the program’s coordinator, Sheri Looper at 303-445-2232 or slooper@usbr.gov.
Website: See Drought Response Program.
Water and Energy Efficiency Grants
Description: The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation can provide funding to western states to assist communities and their water utilities on projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, mitigate risk of future water conflicts, and enhance supply sustainability.
Projects selected will build long-term resilience to drought and reduce the need for emergency response actions. Projects are generally in the final design stage.
Eligibility: States, tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts; state, regional, or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and other organizations with water or power delivery authority.
Type and Cost Share: The opportunity consists of three funding groups: Funding Group 1 is up to $500,000 in federal cost-share for smaller on-the-ground projects, Funding Group 2 is up to $2 million in federal cost-share for larger projects that can be completed in three years, and Funding Group 3 is up to $5 million in federal cost-share for larger projects that can be completed in three years.
50% non-Federal cost share contribution is required, either in monetary or in-kind services. Note that American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands are not included in this cost share requirement.
Application: Available on an annual basis. Contact the program’s coordinator, Josh German at 303-445-2839 or jgerman@usbr.gov.
Website: See Water and Energy Efficiency Grants.
Environmental Water Resource Grants
Description: The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation can provide funding to western states to assist communities and their water utilities in water conservation and efficiency projects that result in quantifiable and sustained water savings and benefit ecological values; water management or infrastructure improvements to mitigate drought-related impacts to ecological values; and watershed management or restoration projects benefitting ecological values that have a nexus to water resources or water resources management.
Eligibility: States, tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts; state, regional, or local authorities.
Type and Cost Share: Up to $2 million in federal cost-share for larger projects completed in three years. 25% non-Federal cost share, either in monetary or in-kind services.
Application: Available on an annual basis. Contact the program’s coordinator, Robin Graber at 303-445-2764 or rgraber@usbr.gov.
Website: See Environmental Water Resource Grants.