The Consumptive Use Mitigation Grant Program aims to fund projects that mitigate consumptive use or otherwise improve drought resilience in the Susquehanna River Basin.
Donor Name: Susquehanna River Basin Commission
State: Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/30/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC/Commission) is a federal-interstate compact commission responsible for coordinated management of the water resources of the 27,510-squaremile Susquehanna River Basin (basin). The basin is situated in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland and comprises 43 percent of the Chesapeake Bay’s drainage area. Under the authority of the Susquehanna River Basin Compact (Compact), the Commission regulates groundwater withdrawal, surface water withdrawal, diversion, and consumptive use (CU) projects in the basin.
The purpose of the Commission’s CU Mitigation Grant Program is to implement projects that mitigate consumptive use or otherwise improve drought resilience in the basin. These projects are intended to help increase water supply storage, provide low flow augmentation, reduce water loss, enhance groundwater recharge, and implement other related drought mitigation measures.
The Commission’s CU Mitigation Policy expands the scope of alternatives for Commission initiated mitigation projects. This includes pursuit of traditional water storage and low flow augmentation projects, as well as alternative methods including water conservation and reuse, groundwater recharge, and water quality improvements. Priority projects for mitigating CU in the basin are those that will result in:
- Additional water supply storage or capacity available for offsetting or attenuating reductions in water availability from CU during critical low flow periods and droughts.
- Improved reservoir releases, groundwater utilization, or drought operations that temper reductions in water availability from CU during critical low flow periods and droughts.
- Increased water conservation, recycling, or reuse that reduces CU and associated decreases in water availability during critical low flow periods and droughts.
- Enhanced infiltration and groundwater recharge that sustains baseflow and makes watersheds more resilient to critical low flow periods and droughts.
Funding Information
The Commission anticipates awarding approximately $4 million to $6 million yearly in total grant funding, with anticipated individual project awards of $100,000 or more.
Eligible Projects
Grant applications are limited to one per organization. The subsequent alternative categories, project types, and examples are intended to assist applicants in determining whether their project is eligible and how it ranks relative to mitigating consumptive use or otherwise improving drought resilience in the basin.
- Water Supply Alternatives
- Project Operation Alternatives
- Demand Modification Alternatives
- Groundwater Replenishment Alternatives
Eligibility Criteria
Any of the following entities may apply for a grant under the CU Mitigation Grant Program:
- Project Sponsor – Any person who owns, operates, or proposes to undertake a water withdrawal, consumptive use, or water supply project and has a docket or other approval to operate issued by the Commission.
- Local, State, and Federal Government Entity – Any federal, state, county, or local government entity, including government-led coalitions, municipal authorities, school districts, and home rule municipalities.
- Tax-Exempt Non-Profit Organization – A tax-exempt, non-profit organization under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code involved in research, restoration, rehabilitation, planning, acquisition, development, education, or other activities, which furthers the protection, enhancement, conservation, preservation, or management of the basin’s water resources.
- Institution of Higher Education – An entity that is an accredited university, college, seminary college, community college, or two-year college.
For more information, visit SRBC.
