WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects 2024

The Bureau of Reclamation invites eligible applicants to submit proposals for projects that can increase water management flexibility—making the water supply more resilient.

Donor Name: Bureau of Reclamation

State: Selected States

County: All Counties

U.S. Territory: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 10/31/2023

Size of the Grant: Up to $500,000

Grant Duration: 3 years

Details:

This helps to prepare for and address the impacts of drought and water supply shortages. Drought Resiliency Projects: Tasks A-C (50 percent non-federal cost-share required)

Task A: Increasing the Reliability of Water Supplies through Infrastructure Improvements.
Task B: Increasing the Reliability of Water Supplies Through Groundwater Recovery.
Task C: Projects to Improve Water Management through Decision Support Tools, Modeling, and Measurement.
Task D: Construction of domestic water supply projects for Tribes or disadvantaged communities that do not have reliable access to water supplies.

Funding Information

Drought Resiliency Projects: Tasks A-C
- Applicants are invited to submit proposals under the following funding groups for Tasks A-C:
  - Funding Group I: Up to $500,000 in Federal funds provided through this NOFO will be available for projects that generally should be completed in two years.
  - Funding Group II: Up to $2,000,000 in Federal funds provided through this NOFO will be available for larger projects that may take up to three years to complete. Projects in this group may be funded on an annual basis, and if so, funding for the second and third years of the project is contingent upon future appropriations.
  - Funding Group III: Up to $5,000,000 in Federal funds provided through this NOFO will be available for larger projects that may take up to three years to complete. Projects in this group may be funded on an annual basis, and if so, funding for the second and third years of the project is contingent upon future appropriations.
Domestic Water Supply Projects for Tribes or Disadvantaged Communities: Task D
- Maximum Award: $10,000,000
- Minimum Award: $25,000
- Applicants are invited to submit proposals under Task D for the construction of domestic water supply projects for Tribes or disadvantaged communities that do not have reliable access to water supplies. Up to $10,000,000 in Federal funds provided through this NOFO will be available for projects that generally should be completed in three years.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants for Drought Resiliency Projects:

Tasks A-C 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 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.

Category B applicants

Nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership with and with the agreement of an entity described in Category A. To be eligible,

Category B applicants should include with their application a letter from the Category A partner stating that the Category A partner:

Is acting in partnership with the applicant;
Agrees to the submittal and content of the application; and
Intends to participate in the project in some way (e.g., by providing input, feedback, or other support for the project). Note: Partners do not necessarily need to contribute cost-share funding. Category B applicants must be in the United States or one of the Territories identified above.

Eligible Applicants for Domestic Water Supply Projects: Task D

A State, Tribe, irrigation district, water district, or other organization with water or power delivery in one of the following states or territories: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands.

Ineligible Applicants