Deadline: 12-Dec-2024
The U.S. Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation, administers the Small Surface and Groundwater Storage Program (Small Storage Program) to promote Federal assistance to enhance water storage opportunities for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities.
Reclamation leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to support stakeholder efforts to stretch scarce water supplies and avoid conflicts over water.
The objective of this NOFO is to invite sponsors of small surface water and groundwater storage projects to request cost-shared funding for the planning, design, and/or construction of those projects.
Surface water and groundwater storage are essential tools in stretching the limited water supplies in the Western United States. Water storage projects enhance and increase the reliability of municipal and irrigation water supplies, provide opportunities to enhance groundwater management and provide water quality improvements and ecosystem benefits. These projects will provide Western communities with new sources of water and increase water management flexibility.
Type of Award
- Project awards will be made through a grant or cooperative agreement as applicable to the selected project.
- Under cooperative agreements, the successful applicant should expect Reclamation to have substantial involvement in the project, including:
- collaboration and participation with the successful applicant in the management of the project and close oversight of the successful applicant’s activities to ensure that the program objectives are achieved, and
- possible oversight, including review, input, and approval at key interim stages of the project.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Funding: $43,500,000
- Maximum Award: $30,000,000
- Minimum Award: $0
Eligible Projects
- Projects eligible for funding under this NOFO include planning, design, and construction of small surface water and groundwater storage facilities. In order to be eligible for funding under this NOFO, the project must meet the following requirements.
- Only eligible applicants may construct, operate, and maintain the project, or an eligible applicant must sponsor the project. To sponsor a project, the eligible applicant must contribute funding for a sufficient portion of the capital construction costs of the project within the timeframe of this NOFO consistent with the law.
- The project must have a completed small storage feasibility study submitted to Reclamation for review by August 15, 2024 for applications submitted under the first submittal period, and by April 30, 2025 for applications submitted under the second submittal period.
- The project must be located in the Western United States as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended and supplemented; specifically: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming
- The project must increase yield, on average, above existing conditions to identified beneficiaries and the environment.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American Tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized Tribal governments)
- Joint powers authorities organized pursuant to state law are eligible entities for this funding opportunity
For more information, visit Grants.gov.