The United States 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.
Donor Name: Bureau of Reclamation
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/17/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 5 Years
Details:
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 reliability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts.
The Department’s Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects (AERP) provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems in support of the Department’s priorities. Through AERP, Reclamation leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and other entities as they study, design and construct aquatic ecosystem restoration projects that are collaboratively developed, have widespread regional benefits, and result in an improvement to the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat through restoration or improved fish passage.
The objective of this NOFO is to invite eligible applicants to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on the study, design, and construction of Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects that are collaboratively developed, have widespread regional benefits, and are for the purpose of improving of the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage. As used here, “aquatic ecosystem” refers to freshwater and brackish water habitats such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, wetlands, swamps, and estuaries and the adjacent floodplains, riparian corridors, deltas, and shallow aquifers that interact with surface water.
This NOFO provides funding under two task areas: Task A: Study and Design, and Task B: Construction projects. For the purpose of this funding opportunity, “proposed project” refers to either a proposed Task A: Study and Design project or a proposed Task B: Construction project. Please note: Applications must identify the task area for which funding is being sought.
Funding Information
- Approximately $95,000,000 is available under this program, to be distributed through two funding cycles.
- Task A: Study and Design Projects (Projects must be completed in two years)
- Minimum Award: $500,000
- Maximum Award: $2,000,000
- Task B: Construction Projects (Projects must be completed in five years)
- Minimum Award: $3,000,000
- Maximum Award: $10,000,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Category A Applicants:
- States, Tribes, irrigation districts, or water districts;
- State, regional, or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority;
- Agencies established under State law for the joint exercise of powers;
- Other entities or organizations that own a facility that is eligible for upgrade, modification, or removal.
- All 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: 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, the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Eligible Category B Applicants
- Nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership with, and with the agreement of an entity described in Category A, with respect to a project involving land or infrastructure owned by the Category A entity. All Category B applicants must be located in the United States, or the specific Territories identified above.
- 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, for example, by providing input, feedback, or other support for the project.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
