WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects

The objective of the WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects funding opportunity is to invite eligible entities to apply for funding to implement projects per the authorizing language referenced above that benefit water resource management for multiple uses, including water conservation and efficiency projects, water infrastructure improvements, and river and watershed restoration. Projects that balance numerous community interests (agriculture, recreation, fisheries, power, etc.), were developed collaboratively, and provide significant watershed benefits will be prioritized under this funding opportunity. This program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332).

Applicants eligible to receive an award under this funding opportunity are described below. · Category A Applicants 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. · Category A applicants must be located in the Western United States or Territories 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, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U. · S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Category B Applicants: Nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership with, and with the agreement of an entity described in Category A. All Category B applicants must be located in the United States, or the specific Territories identified above under Category A Applicants. Applicants applying under this category should include a letter of support or other documentation demonstrating that they are acting in partnership with and with the agreement of the Category A entity. Reclamation may request additional information to verify that the applicant meets this requirement. Category C Applicants: Watershed groups as defined in the Cooperative Watershed Management Act, Section 6001(6). All Category C applicants must be located in the United States, or the specific Territories identified above under Category A Applicants. To be eligible, the watershed group must: Be a grassroots, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed;Capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources in the watershed;Make decisions on a consensus basis; and · Represent a diverse group of stakeholders representing different water use sectors, 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. · Applications submitted by watershed groups will be ranked...

The Federal share of the cost of a project or activity carried out under this Program shall not exceed 50% of the total cost of the project or activity. Note: this cost-sharing requirement may not be applicable to American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands. Please review individual funding opportunities for specific information.

Fiscal year 2025: Reclamation�s Water and Energy Efficiency Grants provided funding to a water district in partnership with a ditch company and an irrigation district to replace 11 existing outdated manual headgates along two canals that divert irrigation water from the river with automated turnout gates coupled with a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system. The project also includes installation of two additional automated turnout gates to better control flow. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 5,140 acre-feet, currently lost to leakage and over-delivery at the canal gates due to operational inefficiencies such as manual gate operation. Conserved water will remain in the river for recreational use, water supply, and other beneficial uses. Reclamation�s Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects provided funding to a city to install 390 Advanced Metering Infrastructure meters, enabling the city to quickly identify and respond to water leaks and usage spikes; customers will have access to their water usage through an online portal. These improvements will help the city better manage its water supplies more efficiently and enhance the quality of its...