It’s time to apply! WaterNow Alliance is here to help. The Bureau of Reclamation has announced 3 WaterSMART funding opportunities that are now open for applications to support water conservation and efficiency:  WaterSMART Grant – Water and Energy Efficiency, WaterSMART Grant – Small-Scale Water Efficiency, and Drought Response – Resiliency Projects. Scroll down to read the details for each program.

Water
conservation and efficiency are key to building a resilient water future in the
Colorado Basin. Funding through the Bureau’s WaterSMART Program can make a big
difference in getting local projects and programs up and running, particularly
for medium and smaller water providers. WaterNow over the last few months has
been speaking with Reclamation staff to gather information and prepare to
provide application guidance and technical support to our members who may be
interested in applying for these funds. 
We understand these applications take time to develop and WaterNow wants
our members to know we are here for from start to finish if you need extra
capacity.  As additional applications for
funding opportunities are opened, WaterNow will be sending out more
information. To join our WaterSMART mailing list and/or request assistance with
the application process, click here.

Bringing
Home Federal Funding to Support Your Community

As communities across the US grapple with aging infrastructure, drought, flooding, and other serious challenges, the Bureau of Reclamation has expanded funding opportunities provided by the WaterSMART Program to help address these challenges. WaterNow is working to support our members, partners, and water providers in the Colorado Basin with guidance in determining program eligibility and facilitating the WaterSMART application process. The 3 WaterSMART Programs that include a focus on water conservation and efficiency elements are:

  1. WaterSMART Grants;
  2. Drought Response Program (DRP); and
  3. Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP). 

WaterSMART GRANTS

The Reclamation
through its WaterSMART Grants Program include the following three grant
sub-programs: (1) Water and Energy
Efficiency; (2) Small-Scale Water
Efficiency; and (3) Water
Marketing Strategy on a 50/50 cost-share basis.  If your project includes a purpose to:

  • conserve and use water more
    efficiently;
  • mitigate conflict risk in areas at a
    high risk of future water conflict; and
  • accomplish other benefits that
    contribute to water supply reliability

you should
consider to apply for WaterSMART’s Water and Energy Efficiency Grant (applies
to larger water conservation projects) and/or Small-Scale Water Efficiency
funding (applies to specific-small water efficiency projects that have been
prioritized through planning efforts led by the entity). The Water Marketing
Strategy are to establish or expand water markets or water marketing activities
which is separate from the conservation and efficiency goals of Water and
Energy Efficiency and Small-Scale Water Efficiency.

  • The
    Water and Energy Efficiency Grant application is open     as
    of January 31st, 2019 and will
    close March 19, 2019 at 4pm MT. 
  • The
    Small-Scale Water Efficiency Project grant application is now open     and
    closes April 24,
    2019 at 4pm MT.
  • Water Marketing Strategy Applications
    will likely open this January or February based on communication with
    Reclamation staff.

NOW OPEN  FOR APPLICATIONS
–WATER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANTS!

2019 Application Opened: January 31, 2019
Current Closing Date for Applications: March 19, 2019 as 4pm MT
Funding Opportunity #: BOR-DO-19-F004
Link to Application Documents:https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=BOR-DO-19-F004

Summary
of Water and Energy Efficiency Grants:

These grants will
be awarded to larger projects that will result in quantifiable and sustained
water savings and support broader water reliability benefits. These projects conserve and use water
more efficiently; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future
water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply
reliability in the western United States.

Per the
Reclamation there is about $24 million available through this funding
opportunity in 2019. Funding is provided in two groups.

  • Funding Group I projects receive up to $300,000
    and can be completed within two years.
  • Funding Group II projects may receive up to $1.5
    million for a phased project up to three years.

Applicants must
provide at least a 50 percent cost-share. Per
communication with Reclamation staff, last
year 54 out of 120 applicants received funding for this grant.

Questions/Need Application
Support from WaterNow: Email Kate Moran

NOW OPEN  FOR APPLICATIONS
– SMALL-SCALE WATER EFFICIENCY PROJECTS!

2019 Application Opened: January 24, 2019
Current Closing Date for Applications:April 24, 2019, 4pm MT
Funding Opportunity #: BOR-DO-19-F005
Link to Application Documents: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=BOR-DO-19-F005

 Summary of Small-Scale Water Efficiency
Projects:

The projects funded with these Small-Scale Water Efficiency grants
include:

  • installation of flow measurement devices and automation technology;
  • canal lining or piping to address seepage;
  • municipal meter upgrades; and
  • other projects to conserve water.

These cost-shared projects conserve and use water more
efficiently, mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water
conflict, and accomplish other benefits that contribute to a reliable water
supply in the West. Funding of up to $75,000 is available per project and
total project construction costs should be no more than $200,000. Recipients
must also provide at least a 50-percent non-Federal cost share. Per
communication with Reclamation staff, last
year 58 out of 70 applicants received funding for this grant and is
considered less competitive compared to some of the other grants.

Questions/Need Application
Support from WaterNow: Email Kate Moran

DROUGHT RESPONSE PLANNING

The DRP includes
(1) Drought Contingency Planning;
(2) Resiliency Projects;
(3) Emergency Response Actions
to support a proactive approach to drought by providing assistance to water
managers.  This includes assistance to
help develop and update comprehensive drought plans and implement projects that
will build long-term resiliency to drought. 

WaterNow is
available to help support applications for the Drought Contingency Planning and
the Reclamation will provide financial assistance on a competitive basis for
applicants to develop a plan or update a plan to meet the required  elements described in the Drought Framework
Plan. Most drought contingency planning processes are structured to address the
following:

  • How will we recognize the next drought
    in the early stages?
  • How will drought affect us?
  • How can we protect ourselves from the
    next drought?

WaterNow is
available to help support applications for the Resiliency Projects and the Reclamation
will fund projects that:

  • build resiliency to drought by
    increasing the reliability of water supplies;
  • improving water management; and/or
  • providing benefits for fish and
    wildlife and the environment.

Applicants must
provide at least a 50 percent cost-share. To learn more
about this expanded program click here.

  • The
    Resiliency Project application is open     as of January 24th,
    2019 and will close
    March 27, 2019 at 4pm MT. 

NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS – DROUGHT RESPONSE PLANNING RESILIENCY PROJECTS!

2019 Application Opened: January 24, 2019
Current Closing Date for Applications: March 27, 2019, 4pm MT
Funding Opportunity #: BOR-DO-19-F003
Link to Application Documents:https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=BOR-DO-19-F003

Summary
of Grant:

As an applicant you must demonstrate that the proposed project is
supported by an existing drought planning effort as it is a well-established
principle that proactively identifying resiliency projects through drought planning,
in advance of a crisis, is far more cost effective than emergency
response. Drought resiliency projects shall:

  • increase the reliability of water supplies;
  • improve water management; and/or
  • provide benefits for fish, wildlife and the environment.

Proposed projects that are supported by an existing drought plan
are prioritized. Federal funding is available in
two funding groups:

  • Funding Group I: Up to
    $300,000 per agreement for a project that can be completed within two years.
  • Funding Group II: Up to
    $750,000 per agreement for a project that can be completed within three years.

Those eligible to apply for funding include states, Indian Tribes,
irrigation districts, water districts, or other organizations with water or
power delivery authority located in the western United States or United States
Territories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended.
Applicants must also provide a 50 percent non-Federal
cost-share. Reclamation anticipates awarding between 10 and 15 drought resiliency projects for 2019.

Questions/Need Application
Support from WaterNow: Email Kate Moran

WATER CONSERVATION FIELD SERVICES PROGRAM

WCFSP provides
financial assistance for:

  • water conservation planning;
  • development of system optimization
    reviews;
  • designing water management
    improvements; and
  • demonstration projects. 

Get Ready to
Apply: The WCFSP are currently carried out by each
regional office (i.e., Upper and Lower Colorado Reclamation Regional Offices).  Anticipate funding opportunities for the
Lower Colorado is to open in early-mid 2019. 

NOT SURE WHAT GRANT(S) TO APPLY TO? 

WaterNow is here
to help you with technical support and/or guidance through the application
process. Contact us by
email or phone if you would like to set-up a time to discuss funding
options for your community. While, WaterNow is focused on the 3 major programs
discussed above to promote water conservation and efficiency in the Colorado
Basin, there currently are a total of 6 major programs each with targeted objectives
(e.g., in-stream flows, efficiency, environment, conservation, watershed
health, collaboration, etc.).  To learn
more about each Program click the link to read more on the Reclamation website.