Deadline: 20-May-25
Applications are now open for the Cooperative Watershed Management Program to provide funding to watershed groups to encourage diverse stakeholders to form local solutions to address their water management needs.
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with states, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply sustainability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts.
WaterSMART’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP) provides support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and aligned with other priorities, such as: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.
Objectives
- The objective of this NOFO is to invite states, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, local governmental entities, non-profit organizations, Existing Watershed Groups, and local and special districts (e.g., irrigation and water districts, conservation districts, natural resource districts) to submit proposals for Phase I activities to develop a watershed group, complete watershed restoration planning activities, and design watershed management projects.
- A “watershed group” is a grassroots, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed, is capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources in the watershed, makes decisions on a consensus basis, and represents a diverse group of stakeholders, including hydroelectric producers, livestock grazing, timber production, land development, recreation or tourism, irrigated agriculture, the environment, municipal water supplies, private property owners, Federal, state and local governments, Tribes, and disadvantaged communities.
Funding Information
- A total of up to $300,000 in Federal funds may be awarded to an applicant over the three-year period, with no more than $100,000 to be available per year.
- Maximum Award: $300,000
- Minimum Award: $10,000
Type of Award
- Project awards will be made through grants or cooperative agreements as applicable to each project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, the recipient should expect Reclamation to have substantial involvement in the project.
- Substantial involvement by Reclamation may include:
- Collaboration and participation with the recipient in the management of the project and close oversight of the recipient’s activities to ensure that the program objectives are being achieved.
- Oversight may include review, input, and approval at key interim stages of the project.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants eligible to receive an award under this funding opportunity are described below.
- Applicants (except non-profits organizations) must also be located in one of the following states or territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
- Non-profit organizations must be located in the United States or one of the territories identified above and must be sponsoring the establishment or development of a watershed group located in one of the following states or territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.
- Applicant Eligibility for New Watershed Groups
- Applicants eligible to receive an award as a New Watershed Group include states, Indian Tribes, local and special districts (e.g., irrigation, water districts, water conservation districts,), local governmental entities, interstate organizations, non-profit organizations, and institutes of higher education sponsoring a watershed group. To be eligible, applicants must also meet all the following requirements:
- Be sponsoring the development of a New Watershed Group
- Significantly affect or be affected by the quality or quantity of water in a watershed
- Be capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources
- Applicants eligible to receive an award as a New Watershed Group include states, Indian Tribes, local and special districts (e.g., irrigation, water districts, water conservation districts,), local governmental entities, interstate organizations, non-profit organizations, and institutes of higher education sponsoring a watershed group. To be eligible, applicants must also meet all the following requirements:
- Applicant Eligibility for Existing Watershed Groups
- Applicants eligible to receive an award as an Existing Watershed Group include states, Indian Tribes, local and special districts (e.g., irrigation, water districts, water conservation districts), local governmental entities, interstate organizations, non-profit organizations, and institutes of higher education sponsoring a watershed group. To be eligible, applicants must also be an Existing Watershed Group, which meets the definition of a watershed group and is legally incorporated as a nonprofit entity; be a participating entity in an Existing Watershed Group; or be a fiscal sponsor of an Existing Watershed Group.
Ineligible Applicants
- Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:
- Federal Governmental entities
- Individuals
- Institutes of higher education, unless they are serving as a sponsor for a watershed group.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
