U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of ReclamationWaterSMART

Program Eligible Applicants Federal/Non-Federal Cost Share Funding 

Water and Energy Efficiency Grants

On-the-ground water management improvement projects, including projects that conserve water and address water supply reliability.Program Contact: Josh German jgerman@usbr.gov

Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects

Small water efficiency improvements that have been identified through previous planning efforts.Program Contact: Nickie McCann nmccann@usbr.gov

Drought Resiliency Projects

Funding for on-the-ground projects and modeling tools that will increase water reliability and improve water management.Program Contact: Sheri Looper slooper@usbr.gov

Category A Applicants: States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, or other organizations with water or power delivery authority.Category B Applicants: Nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership and with the agreement of an entity described above.Applicants must be located in the Western United States or United States Territories specifically: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming (the “17 

Western States”), Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico. 

Up to $500,000 for projects to be completed within two years; up to $5 million for projects to be completed within three years.Non-Federal Cost Share: 50% or greater.Up to $10 million for domestic water supply projects for Tribes or disadvantaged communities that do not have reliable access to water supplies. To be completed within three years. 5% Non-Federal cost share with possible waiver available.

Status of WaterSMART Program Funding Opportunities

Up to $500,000 for projects to be completed within two years; up to $5 million for large projects to be completed within three years.Non-Federal Cost Share: 50% or greater.Up to $100,000 for projects to be completed within two years. Total project costs should generally be less than $225,000.Non-Federal Cost Share: 50% or greater.

Reclamation will allocate WaterSMART Grants Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) under this funding opportunity. Approximately $50 million 

is anticipated to be available under the FY24 funding opportunity.Reclamation will distribute WaterSMART Grants Congressional appropriations under this funding opportunity. Approximately $12 million 

in is anticipated to be available under the funding opportunity.This funding opportunity will be used to allocated $30 million FY 23 and available FY 24 appropiations. In addition, Reclamation will under this funding opportunity to allocate funds from the BIL and the Inflation Reducation Act (IRA).

www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART 
Program Eligible Applicants Federal/Non-Federal Cost Share Funding 

Environmental Water Resources Projects

Water conservation and efficiency projects that result in quantifiable and sustained water savings and benefit ecological values; water management or infrastructure improvements to mitigate drought-related impacts to ecological values; and watershed management or restoration projects benefitting ecological values that have a nexus to water resources or water resources management.Program Contact: Robin Graber rgraber@usbr.gov

Applied Science Grants

Projects to develop hydrologic information and water management tools, improve modeling and forecasting capabilities, and nature based solutions. Program Contacts: Stephanie Micek smicek@usbr.govAvra Morgan aomorgan@usbr.gov

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program

Funding for 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 the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage. Program Contacts: Avra Morgan aomorgan@usbr.govIrene Hoiby ihoiby@usbr.gov

Under the FY24 Funding Opportunity, Reclamation will allocate BIL funding for projects that will improve the condition of a natural feature or nature-based feature, BIL funding for CWMP, and BIL funding for multi-benefit projects to improve watershed health under Section 40907 of the BIL. Approximately $50 million is anticipated to be available under the funding opportunity.

Category A Applicants: States, Tribes, irrigation or water districts, state, regional, or local authorities, agencies established under State law for the joint exercise of powers, and other entities or organizations that own a dam that is eligible for upgrade or modification located in the 17 Western States, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands.Category B Applicants: Nonprofit conservation organizations acting in partnership with an entity above, with respect to a project involving land or infrastructure owned by the Category A entity. 

Non-Federal Cost Share: 35% Approximately $95 million 

available for aquatic ecosystem restoration projects under BIL in FY23 and FY24 (including funding for Section 40904 Multi-Benefit Projects To Improve Watershed Health) will be provided through this Funding Opportunity. 

Applicant eligibility is as described above with the addition of Category C Applicants as described below.Category C Applicants: Nonprofit conservation organizations submitting an application for a project to improve the condition of a natural feature without a Category A partner must demonstrate that entities described in Category A in the applicable service area have been notified of the project and do not object.

Up to $3 million for projects to be completed within three years. Total project costs should not exceed $6 million.Non-Federal Cost Share: 25 - 50%

States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, universities, non-profit research institutions, organizations with water or power delivery authority, or non-profit organizations located in the 17 Western States, Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.

Up to $400,000 per agreement for a project that can be completed within two years.Non-Federal Cost Share: 25 - 50% or greater.

This funding opportunity will be used to allocate approximately $10 million in FY23 and available FY24 appropriations. 

www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART 
Program Eligible Applicants Federal/Non-Federal Cost Share Funding 

Cooperative Watershed Management Program - Phase I

Watershed group development, watershed 

restoration planning, and watershed management project design.Program Contact: Robin Graber rgraber@usbr.gov

Planning and Project Design Grants

Collaborative planning and design projects to support water management improvements, include the following activities:Water Strategy Grants (WSG):Planning projects to support water management solutions, such as water marketing, water conservation, drought resilience, and ecological resilienceProject Design Grants (PDG):Projects to develop the final design of onthe-ground water management construction and restoration projects.Drought Contingency Planning (DCP):Projects to develop a new or update an existing Drought Contingency Plan.Program Contacts: WSG Irene Hoiby ihoiby@usbr.govPDG Nickie McCann nmccann@usbr.govDCP Sheri Looper slooper@usbr.gov

Category A Applicants: States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, or other organizations with water or power delivery authority.Category B Applicants: Nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership and an entity described above.Applicants must be located in the 17 Western States, Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.Note: Drought Contingency Planning funding is limited to Category A and applicants located in the 17 Western States, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands.

Up to $400,000 for projects that can be completed within 3 years.Non-Federal Cost Share: 25 - 50%. Proposals for the planning or design of projects to provide domestic water supplies to disadvantaged communities may be eligible for 0% non-Federal cost share. 

Approximately $35 million 

in available program funds, including BIL funding (including funding for Section 40904 MultiBenefit Projects To Improve Watershed Health) will be provided through this Funding Opportunity. 

States, Indian tribes, local and special districts (e.g., irrigation and water districts), local governmental entities, and non-profit organizations that are located in the 17 Western States, Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.

Up to $300,000 may be awarded to an applicant per year, for a period of up to three years.Non-Federal Cost Share: No non‐Federal cost-share required.

Reclamation will allocate Congressional appropriations and BIL funding under this funding opportunity. Up to $20 million is anticipated to be available.

www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART 
Program Eligible Applicants Federal/Non-Federal Cost Share Funding 

Title XVI Authorized Projects

Funding for planning, design, and construction of specific congressionally authorized water recycling and reuse projects.Program Contact: Maribeth Menendez mmenendez@usbr.gov

Title XVI WIIN Act Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects

Funding for planning, design, and construction of WIIN Act water recycling and reuse projects.Program Contact: Maribeth Menendez mmenendez@usbr.gov

Desalination Construction

Funding for planning, design, and construction of WIIN Act brackish groundwater and ocean desalination projects.Program Contact: Maribeth Menendez mmenendez@usbr.gov

Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects

Funding for planning, design, and construction of Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects with a total project cost greater than $500 million.Program Contact: Maribeth Menendez mmenendez@usbr.gov

Sponsors of water reclamation and reuse projects specifically authorized for funding under Title XVI of P.L. 102-575.

Federal funding is limited to 25% of the total project cost, up to $20 million, unless otherwise specified by Congress.Non-Federal Cost Share: 75% or greater.

Funding opportunities will be used to allocate up to $179 million in BIL funding and $60 million in annual 

appropriations.

Sponsors of water reclamation and reuse projects with completed feasibility studies that have been submitted to Reclamation for review.Entities must be located in the 17 Western States, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands.Sponsors of water recycling projects with a total project cost greater than $500 million with completed feasibility studies that have been submitted to Reclamation for review.Entities must be located in the 17 Western States.

Federal funding is limited to 25% of the total project cost, up to $30 million. Non-Federal Cost Share: 75% or greater.

Sponsors of desalination projects with completed feasibility studies that have been submitted to Reclamation for review. Entities must be located in the 17 western states.

Federal funding is limited to 25% of the total project cost, up to $30 million. Non-Federal Cost Share: 75% or greater.

The funding opportunity will be used to allocate over $50 million in BIL funding and $12 million in annual appropriations for this program, along with other available program funding. 

Federal funding is limited to 25% of the total project cost. Non-Federal Cost Share: 75% or greater.

The funding opportunity will be used to allocate up to $180 million in BIL funding.

www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART 
Program Eligible Applicants Federal/Non-Federal Cost Share Funding 

Water Recycling and Desalination Planning

Funding for planning and pre-construction activities, including the development of water recycling and desalination feasibility studies, to facilitate project development under the Title XVI Program, the Desalination Construction Program, and the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program. Program Contact: Maribeth Menendez mmenendez@usbr.govThis table is intended as a summary of programs including some basic program requirements. Refer to each Notice of Funding Opportunity for details on program requirements, eligible projects, eligible applicants, and cost share. 

For the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianan Islands, all non-federal cost-share requirements arsection 601, as amended, in conjunction with 48 U.S.C. § 1469a(d).

States, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts; and any state, regional, or local authority located in the 17 Western States, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands.

Non-Federal Cost Share: 50% or greater for planning and preconstruction activities for Title XVI and Desalination Construction projects.Non-Federal Cost Share: 75% or greater for planning and preconstruction activities for Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects with an anticipated total project cost greater than $500 million. 

www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART