2021 WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency 

Grants

Arizona

Colorado River Indian Tribes, 73-19L-1 Canal Lining Project

Reclamation Funding: $209,182 Total Project Cost: $443,229

The Colorado River Indian Tribes, located in western Arizona, will line 3,985 feet of the currently 

earthen 73-19L-1 canal reach of the Colorado River Irrigation Project with a geosynthetic membrane 

covered with shotcrete. This stretch of the canal has been identified as having the most significant 

seepage rate of all 232 miles of canals in the Colorado River Irrigation Project. The project is 

anticipated to result in annual water savings of 267 acre-feet currently lost to seepage. This area of 

Arizona is vulnerable to drought, having experienced drought conditions for the past 19 years, and 

the Tribes rely on the Colorado River as their sole source of water. The water conserved through the 

project will be utilized by the Tribes primarily to meet demands on the Reservation, within the limits 

of their existing water rights.

Paloma Irrigation and Drainage District, Water and Energy Modernization (10 Gates 

Project)

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,203,277

The Paloma Irrigation and Drainage District, located in southern Arizona, will replace ten manually 

controlled jack lift gates with new automated Rubicon Flume gates. The project will allow the 

District to operate and manage its water distribution system with more efficiency and control. The 

project is expected to result in annual water savings of 2,100 acre-feet, currently lost to operational 

inefficiencies. Water conserved will be left in the Gila River System to meet existing demands during 

times of drought and shortage and will reduce pumping from District wells and positively impact the 

water table.

California 

Alameda County Water District, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Full Deployment 

Project

Reclamation Funding: $2,000,000 Total Project Cost: $36,621,985

The Alameda County Water District will upgrade over 81,000 manual-read water meters with 

ultrasonic advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) compatible meters for landscape, commercial and 

residential water use. The District will also provide customer access to an online water use portal, 

which includes leak detection and alerts, notification of abnormalities in water use patterns, and real-
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time water use data. By improving leak detection and reducing customer overuse, the project is 

expected to result in annual water savings of 1,913 acre-feet. Water saved as a result of the project 

will reduce the District’s overall water demand, thereby increasing instream flows to the Alameda 

Creek and increasing groundwater storage.

Bard Water District, Concrete Lining of the Acoma Lateral & Decommissioning of the 

Titsing Sub-Main with New Pipeline (Phase 4)

Reclamation Funding: $1,117,994 Total Project Cost: $2,235,988

The Bard Water District, located in southern California near the Arizona border, will line 5,550 feet 

of the currently earthen Acoma Lateral with concrete and decommission the 2.5-mile Titsing SubMain to install a 36-inch diameter pipeline. The project is expected to result in annual water savings 

of 701 acre-feet, which is currently lost to seepage, evapotranspiration, and operational losses. 

Conserved water will remain in the Lower Colorado River System and can be used by other water 

users during drought years and in times of shortage, including the Quechan Indian Reservation. 

Once completed, the project will allow farmers to work with the Natural Resources Conservation 

Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program to improve irrigation systems. 

Desert Water Agency, Automated Metering Infrastructure Installation Project

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,058,261

The Desert Water Agency, located in southern California, will equip 8,711 manually read residential 

meters with encoder receiver transmitters, which will provide customers with near real-time water 

usage data, including a leak detection system. The project is expected to result in annual water 

savings of 1,294 acre-feet, which will make the area less vulnerable to impacts from drought, aquifer 

overdraft, and population growth. The conserved water will help protect groundwater resources by 

reducing the need to pump groundwater during times of reduced State Water Project allocations. 

Georgetown Divide Public Utility District, Automated Meter Reading and Meter 

Replacement Project

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,563,619

The Georgetown Divide Public Utility District, located in northern California, will replace 3,800 

mechanical municipal water meters with new water meters with automated meter reading and data 

analytic capability. The project will streamline water use data collection and provide timely water use 

data to customers, which is expected to result in annual water savings of 92 acre-feet. Conserved 

water will be used to avoid reduced deliveries during periods of drought or will otherwise remain in 

Stumpy Meadows Reservoir and ultimately be released to the American River system above Folsom 

Reservoir.

La Habra Utility Authority, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project (Phases 6, 7, & 8)

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,677,320

The La Habra Utility Authority, located in Orange County, will update 5,089 existing manual-read 

water meters with advanced metering infrastructure. The project also includes a web-based utility 

management portal and a web-based customer portal for water customers to access real-time flow 

information and historical usage data. The Utility currently relies on manual readings on a monthly 

basis, making it difficult to detect leaks and monitor potable water use. The project is expected to 
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result in annual water savings of 470 acre-feet, which is currently lost to leaks and customer overuse, 

and will reduce the Utility’s dependence on imported water supplies.

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, LV Tap Advanced Meter Enhancement Program

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $5,617,201

The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, located in Los Angeles County, will install 19,469 

advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters to replace existing, non-AMI meters at all residential 

properties within the District. The AMI meters will automatically relay water usage readings to the 

District’s billing system and the District has implemented a tiered rate structure to reduce customer 

overuse. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,113 acre-feet by identifying 

customer overuse and improving leak detection. The water saved will improve local water reliability 

and reduce reliance on imported water.

City of Menlo Park, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $3,438,327

The City of Menlo Park, located in San Mateo County, will convert all of Menlo Park Municipal 

Water’s 4,329 existing residential and commercial water meters to advanced metering infrastructure 

meters. The project includes an interactive web portal for water customers to view and manage their 

water use patterns, identify leaks, and take corrective actions. The project is expected to result in 

annual water savings of 336 acre-feet by providing real-time information about leaks, breaks, and 

other unusual consumption patterns. The project will improve water management and conservation 

in an area that is currently experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions and help ensure the 

City is prepared for projected population growth. 

Moulton Niguel Water District, Outdoor Residential Water Efficiency Program

Reclamation Funding: $400,000 Total Project Cost: $1,880,944

The Moulton Niguel Water District, located in southern California, will implement direct install 

programs for turf replacement and smart timer installation aimed at decreasing outdoor water 

consumption. The turf replacement program will provide rebates for professional site assessments, 

design, turf removal, and installation of climate-appropriate plants. The program will target 120 

residential projects equating to approximately 109,320 square feet of turf replacement. The smart 

timer program will provide weather-based timers for an anticipated 1,200 residential sites.

Combined, the programs are expected to result in annual water savings of 159 acre-feet. The District 

is entirely dependent on imported sources for its potable water supply and water savings from the 

project will help provide a more secure water supply, particularly in times of drought.

Municipal Water District of Orange County, Orange County Sustainable Landscapes 

Program

Reclamation Funding: $2,000,000 Total Project Cost: $6,873,447

The Municipal Water District of Orange County will implement a rebate program to replace 1.5 

million square feet of turfgrass with water efficient landscaping, upgrade 5,500 antiquated irrigation 

timers to smart irrigation controllers, and convert potable water irrigation systems to non-potable 

systems utilizing recycled water or stormwater at 12 sites. The rebate program is expected to reduce 

overall water consumption by 1,163 acre-feet per year, which will increase the reliability of the 

regional water supply and help offset increased demand due to population growth. 
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North Kern Water Storage District, Calloway Canal Lining (7th Standard Road to 8-1 

Backup Weir)

Reclamation Funding: $2,000,000 Total Project Cost: $4,471,272

The North Kern Water Storage District, located in Bakersfield, California, will line 6,744 feet of a 

currently unlined portion of the Calloway Canal with 4-inch-thick unreinforced concrete. The 

project is expected to result in annual water savings of 2,366 acre-feet, which is currently seeping 

into the groundwater basin that has poor water quality. The groundwater basin in the San Joaquin 

Valley portion of Kern County is critically stressed, especially when pumping increases during dry 

years, and the region is perpetually experiencing drought conditions. Lining the canal will allow for 

more efficient delivery of surface water supplies and reduce dependency on the Kern River by giving 

the District greater flexibility to time its diversions. The project will help to reduce current 

groundwater use in an area where the water quality of recovered groundwater is not suitable for 

irrigation without costly treatment.

City of Oceanside, City of Oceanside Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Pipeline 

Improvement Project (Phase III)

Reclamation Funding: $2,000,000 Total Project Cost: $5,669,548

The City of Oceanside, located in Southern California, will upgrade 11,519 existing primarily 

residential meters to advanced metering infrastructure smart meters with connectivity to the City’s 

existing customer feedback portal. The project also includes replacing approximately 62 broken and 

leaking pipe segments in an existing asbestos cement pipeline with 1,240 feet of polyvinyl chloride 

pipe. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,121 acre-feet by providing realtime information to customers about leaks, overuse, and other abnormal water consumption 

patterns. The water savings is expected to have broad benefits in an area that has historically 

experienced water shortages and drought, relies on purchased water, and is projecting population 

and water demand increases. Currently, the City purchases approximately 90% of its potable water 

supply from the San Diego County Water Authority. The water conserved through this project will 

help the City to use existing supplies more efficiently and reduce the need to purchase additional 

supplies.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Water Use 

Efficiency Project

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,278,969

The Olivenhain Municipal Water District, located in southern California, will continue 

implementation of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) program involving the installation of 

4,181-meter transmitting units on existing AMI capable meters. The meters will be integrated to the 

District’s customer engagement portal to provide customers with near real-time water use data, 

which is expected to result in annual water savings of 285 acre-feet. The District currently purchases 

100% of its potable water supply from the San Diego County Water Authority and water conserved 

through this project will help the District use its purchased potable water supply more efficiently. 
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San Bernardino Municipal Water Department, Advanced Metering Infrastructure 

Implementation Project (Phase I)

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $2,036,535

The San Bernardino Municipal Water Department will implement Phase I of an advanced metering 

infrastructure (AMI) project, which includes replacing 7,500 manual-read residential and commercial 

water meters with AMI meters, connecting 5,000 current AMI meters to the District’s network, 

placement of towers, and installing a new customer engagement portal. The project is expected to 

save water through more timely identification and correction of leaks, correction of abnormal 

consumption patterns, and by providing customers with near real-time data provided through the 

customer engagement portal. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,134 acrefeet, which will be stored for future use in the Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin and reduce the need 

to purchase additional water. 

San Diego County Water Authority, WaterSmart Contractor Incentive Program

Reclamation Funding: $288,500 Total Project Cost: $702,000

The San Diego County Water Authority will expand an existing rebate program for irrigation 

measures, including smart irrigation controllers and high-efficiency nozzles. The expanded program 

will encourage large landscape and commercial customers to install an estimated 8,000 stations for 

smart irrigation controllers, 330 irrigation controllers, 18,000 high efficiency sprinkler nozzles, 75 

flow sensors, and 30,000 square feet of drip irrigation. The project is expected to result in annual 

water savings of 276 acre-feet by increasing irrigation efficiency and reducing runoff. Improved 

irrigation efficiency will maximize use of the Water Authority’s existing water supplies, thereby 

reducing diversions of imported surface water.

City of Santa Barbara, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project (Phase III)

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,436,211

The City of Santa Barbara, located in southern California, will undertake Phase III of its ongoing 

advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project by upgrading 25,500 primarily residential meter 

registers from 6-dial low resolution registers to 8-dial high resolution registers. The project will 

enable the meters to transmit data on smaller volumes of water through the AMI networks,

providing more accurate water measurement and allowing for early leak detection within the water 

system. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 215 acre-feet, which will offset 

groundwater pumping, reduce the City's dependence on water imported through the State Water 

Project, and better prepare the City for extended drought conditions. 

Trabuco Canyon Water District, AMR/AMI Implementation Project

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,936,407

The Trabuco Canyon Water District, located in Orange County, California, will upgrade 3,424 

existing touch meters with an advanced metering infrastructure fixed-base network system that will 

automatically collect and store hourly consumption data, and will be connected to a customer portal.

The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 154 acre-feet by providing real-time 

information to customers about leaks, breaks, and other unusual consumption patterns. Water 

savings as a result of the project will be used to reduce the District’s dependency on imported water 
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supplies during drought conditions (the District relies 100% on imported water for its potable 

supply when seasonal groundwater is limited or not available).

Tulare Irrigation District, Area 18 Water and Energy Efficiency Modernization Project

Reclamation Funding: $1,200,000 Total Project Cost: $2,479,680

The Tulare Irrigation District, located in central California, will upgrade its pipeline system to 

separate the current single main line into two main lines of reinforced concrete pipe and polyvinyl 

chloride pipe, install more powerful and efficient pumps for the main lines, install variable frequency 

drives on the pumps, situate turnouts to increase operational flexibility, and install new meters at 

each turnout. The existing pipeline system is inefficient, limits operational flexibilities, and does not 

support growers that have converted to drip irrigation. The new pipeline system will allow the 

District to deliver surface water supplies more reliably to a larger number of growers simultaneously 

and allow for greater flexibility, which is expected to result in annual water savings of 935 acre-feet. 

Water savings from the project will offset groundwater pumping in the Kaweah Subbasin, which has 

been identified as a high priority groundwater subbasin by the California Department of Water 

Resources and is subject to the State’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. 

City of Vallejo Water Department, Automated Metering Infrastructure Project (Phase I 

Meter Replacement)

Reclamation Funding: $2,000,000 Total Project Cost: $5,494,558

The City of Vallejo Water Department, located northeast of San Francisco, will replace 28,000 

residential meters with automated meter infrastructure compatible meters. The project is expected to 

result in annual water savings of 1,184 acre-feet, which will reduce dependency on imported water 

from Lake Berryessa and provide additional water supply to other users who share Solano Project 

supplies. The project will enhance water reliability and reduce the need to purchase imported water 

in a region that has experienced ongoing drought conditions and water shortages.

Western Canal Water District, SCADA System Implementation and Boundary Outflow 

Monitoring

Reclamation Funding: $76,415 Total Project Cost: $152,830

The Western Canal Water District, located in northern California, will install flow monitoring and 

telemetry stations at three key boundary outflow sites, establish a Supervisory Control and Data 

Acquisition (SCADA) base station, and integrate the three boundary outflow measurement sites into 

the SCADA system. This project will allow the District to quickly identify and correct irrigation 

system excesses or shortages, which is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,829-acre feet 

currently lost to operational spills. The conserved water will be stored in Thermalito Afterbay, 

diverted to provide habitat benefits for migratory waterfowl, or used to meet demands during times 

of shortage due to drought conditions. Conserved water could also be utilized to increase flow in the 

Feather River at strategic times, benefitting the endangered Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout.

Westlands Water District, Westlands Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project

Reclamation Funding: $1,609,000 Total Project Cost: $3,219,539

The Westlands Water District, located in western Fresno and Kings Counties, California, will retrofit 

760 manually read groundwater meters with advanced, automated metering devices. The District will 
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also install transceivers and establish a regional network of twenty-one base stations across the 

District, which encompasses more than 600,000 acres of farmland serving approximately 700 familyowned farms. Water is currently lost to inaccurate groundwater measurement readings and leaks 

within the meters that lead to over application of water. Water losses seep into underlying Corcoran 

Clay, restricting percolation into the Lower Aquifer where 85% of the groundwater is extracted. In 

years when the District receives a reduced Central Valley Project allocation, water users must rely on 

limited groundwater supplies from a critically over-drafted subbasin to produce crops. Use of 

metering devices to quickly detect and repair leaks will avoid much of the water loss into the 

Corcoran Clay and reduce groundwater demand by 1.5%. More efficient water application is 

expected to result in annual groundwater savings of 4,471 acre-feet, which will remain in the 

Westside Subbasin. 

Yuba Water Agency, Sicard Pipeline Project

Reclamation Funding: $2,000,000 Total Project Cost: $7,798,022

The Yuba Water Agency, located north of Sacramento, in collaboration with the Browns Valley 

Irrigation District, will convert 9.3 miles of the Sicard Flat Ditch to a new alignment of 9.6 miles of 

high-density polyethylene pipeline. Much of the existing stretch of the ditch is constructed directly 

into blasted rock, making it porous and susceptible to leaks. The project is expected to result in 

annual water savings of 2,880 acre-feet that is currently lost to seepage, which will be stored in 

Collins Lake reservoir and made available to avoid impacts to existing uses in times of shortage. The 

stored water will also help meet flow bypass requirements for Dry Creek, benefitting the endangered 

Steelhead and other species.

Colorado

City of Aspen, Aspen Maroon Creek Penstock Lining Project

Reclamation Funding: $480,232 Total Project Cost: $3,001,452

The City of Aspen will line approximately 6,235 feet of existing concrete pipe that carries water 

from Maroon Creek to its raw water storage reservoir and will also install a 400-kilowatt 

hydroelectric generation facility. The City does not currently have a large storage reservoir like most 

local water systems, and supplies are direct-flow water rights which are directly impacted by seasonal 

fluctuations and environmental conditions. The project will result in annual water savings of 360 

acre-feet currently lost through the existing pipeline. Water savings will be used to meet existing 

municipal demands and to reduce diversions and allow for increased instream flows in Maroon 

Creek.

Idaho

Arco Diversion Conveyance Lateral Pipeline Association, Arco Diversion Conveyance 

Project (Phase I)

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,376,100

The Arco Diversion Conveyance Lateral Pipeline Association, located in southern Idaho, will 

convert sections of the existing earthen Arco Pipeline and Munsey Pipeline to over 10 miles of 

polyvinyl chloride pipeline. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 736 acre-feet 
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that is currently lost to seepage and evaporation. Water conserved as a result of the project will help 

avoid reduced water allocations during times of shortage. 

Malad Valley Water Measurement District, Irrigation Flow Measurement Project

Reclamation Funding: $367,137 Total Project Cost: $734,274

The Malad Valley Water Measurement District, located in southern Idaho, will install advanced 

water measurement devices for 135 separate irrigation groundwater diversions. The District will also 

install control valves on 15 flowing artesian irrigation wells and 3 open-channel measuring devices. 

More accurate measurement of the District’s groundwater withdrawals is anticipated to reduce 

ground water use by 10%. Once complete, the project is expected to result in annual water savings 

of 4,352 acre-feet, which will remain in Malad Valley aquifers and help reduce long-term water level 

declines. 

Kansas

Almena Irrigation District No. 5, Open Canal to Pipe Conversion and Pump Stations 

Along Prairie Dog Creek

Reclamation Funding: $227,345 Total Project Cost: $478,620

The Almena Irrigation District No. 5, located in northwest Kansas, will convert 10 miles of open 

canal to buried pressurized pipe and install 7 metered and screened floating creek pumps along 

Prairie Dog Creek. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 835 acre-feet, which 

is currently lost to seepage and evaporation in an area that has experienced significant impacts due to 

drought. Conserved water will remain in Norton Reservoir, benefitting recreation and fish and game. 

Once completed, the pressurized pipe system will enable the conversion from flood irrigation to 

more efficient center pivot systems. 

Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District, Automation of the Courtland Canal

Reclamation Funding: $789,805 Total Project Cost: $1,599,878

The Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District, located in northern Kansas, will automate the entire 34.8-

mile length of the Courtland Canal with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition equipment and 

new flow measurement and control gates. The project is expected to result in annual water savings 

of 4,199 acre-feet, which is currently lost to operational spills. The project will contribute to the 

District’s ongoing efforts to operate on a reduced water supply in order to address conflict and 

litigation caused by groundwater depletion and overuse of the Republican River Basin. The project 

will allow for more water to remain in Harlan County Reservoir and excess flows will be transported 

to the downstream Loveland Reservoir. Under current conditions, releases made for irrigation have 

caused significant draw-down in both reservoirs, and increased flows will allow both reservoirs to 

remain at higher levels for recreational activities later into each summer. Increased flows available to 

downstream tributaries on the Republican River may also benefit species, including the endangered 

Topeka Shiner minnow. 
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Montana 

Greenfields Irrigation District, Arnold Coulee Drop Water Savings & Hydropower 

Development Project

Reclamation Funding: $1,999,998 Total Project Cost: $5,688,805

The Greenfields Irrigation District, located in Teton County, Montana, will replace the existing 

concrete Arnold Coulee drop structure with an 11-foot diameter steel penstock. The project also 

includes installation of a vertical Kaplan hydropower turbine with a planned capacity of 2,400 

kilowatts. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,190 acre-feet, which is 

currently lost to seepage. Water saved as a result of this project will allow the District to divert less 

water from Sun River at critical times when the river reaches critically low levels, thereby improving 

instream flows for fish populations and recreation. A diverse group of stakeholders supports the 

project, including Trout Unlimited, recreational groups, and local landowners. 

Helena Valley Irrigation District, Lateral 11.9 Pipeline Conversion Project

Reclamation Funding: $479,674 Total Project Cost: $961,435

The Helena Valley Irrigation District, located near Helena, Montana, will replace 3.3 miles of 

existing earthen canal with a pressurized plastic pipe. The project also includes replacing a concrete 

turnout structure with an automated gate that can automatically regulate flows. Converting the open 

ditch lateral to a closed pipe system is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,550 acre-feet 

that is currently lost to seepage. The District has been unable to consistently deliver water in the 

project area during peak irrigation season or during drought conditions due to extensive water loss 

within the lateral system. Water conserved from implementation of the pipeline will allow the 

District to meet existing demands during times of shortage and will otherwise be used to augment 

flows in Prickly Pear Creek or stored in Helena Regulating Reservoir. 

Nebraska

Middle Republican Natural Resources District, Remote Irrigation Meter and Irrigation 

Water Conservation Project for the Upland Decline Area (Phase II)

Reclamation Funding: $1,300,000 Total Project Cost: $3,288,957

The Middle Republican Natural Resources District, located in southern Nebraska, will install near 

real-time telemetry equipment on 966 irrigation flow meters for improved on-farm water 

management and reporting. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 5,170 acrefeet, which is currently lost to overwatering. Conserved water will remain in the local aquifer to 

maintain groundwater levels for future irrigation events as well as improve discharge for baseflow in 

the Republican River, which has been designated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources 

as over-appropriated for water resources. 
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Nebraska Bostwick Irrigation District, Superior Canal Delivery Efficiency Improvement 

Project

Reclamation Funding: $2,000,000 Total Project Cost: $4,507,591

The Nebraska Bostwick Irrigation District, located in south-central Nebraska, will construct two 

new diversions for the lower Superior Canal. The District holds storage rights in Harlan Reservoir, 

approximately 50 miles upstream of the Superior Diversion structure. Currently, much larger than 

required volumes of water must be released from the reservoir to overcome canal losses incurred 

delivering water to the users at the end of canal, which results in end-of-canal spills. The District will 

install two gallery wells in the north bank of the Republican River to supply water to the lower 

portion of the Superior Canal instead of transporting these supplies through the entire length of the 

canal. The gallery wells will be linked to the District's main office through automation for 

instantaneous control of the pumps to increase system efficiency. Once complete, the project is 

expected to result in annual water savings of 3,400 acre-feet that will remain in the Harlan Reservoir

and be made available in times of shortage, thereby reducing the District’s diversions from the 

Republican River. The project builds on efforts to more effectively manage operations of Harlan 

County Reservoir and the overall water supplies of the basin, with the goal of improving the 

flexibility and reliability of Republican River Compact compliance activities for Nebraska, Kansas, 

Colorado, and the various federal and local water interests in the basin.

New Mexico

Elephant Butte Irrigation District, Renovating Efficient Access to Rio Grande Project 

Surface Water for the Mesilla Valley

Reclamation Funding: $1,782,247 Total Project Cost: $3,595,983

The Elephant Butte Irrigation District, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, will convert 13,540 feet 

of open canal to corrugated metal pipe and install three new lift pumps. The District will also install 

an additional three lift pumps in a different section of canal to improve the timeliness, reliability, and 

efficiency of water orders. Persistent and increasingly severe drought in the area has caused 

shortages in recent years, and the District has only received its full allotment once since 2002. The 

project is expected to result in annual water savings of 9,059 acre-feet, which is currently lost to 

seepage, general canal conveyance losses, and inefficient delivery quantities and timing. Conserved 

water will allow District customers to meet existing demands while also reducing groundwater 

pumping or will otherwise be available for other water users in the area, including future municipal 

and industrial water providers, and environmental restoration efforts. By improving delivery 

pressure, the project will also facilitate current and future on-farm improvement projects, including 

conversion to drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. 

Oregon

Irrigation Canal Company, ICC Canal Piping and Diversion Project

Reclamation Funding: $1,000,000 Total Project Cost: $2,097,000

The Irrigation Canal Company, located in northeast Oregon, will convert 6,200 feet of open earthen 

canal to a 30-inch high-density polyethylene pipeline, re-grade the existing Grande Ronde River 

channel with streambed simulation material, and install rock vanes to construct a roughened 
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channel. The canal improvements will result in an expected annual water savings of 1,805 acre-feet, 

which is currently lost to seepage, and will also improve water quality by eliminating contaminants 

that gather in the open canal from municipal and agricultural land runoff. Reconstruction of the 

current diversion structure will help reduce sediment loading and streambed disruptions in areas of 

the river that are critical habitat for Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. Increased conveyance 

efficiency will allow the Company to provide adequate irrigation water for multiple water right 

holders, while at the same time reducing the amount of water diverted out of the Grande Ronde 

River. The Company will also work with the Allocation of Conserved Water Program to obligate 

some of its water rights to instream flows.

Klamath Irrigation District, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and Automation 

2021-2022 Improvements

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,071,774

The Klamath Irrigation District, located in southern Oregon, will install 21 new Supervisory Control 

and Data Acquisition components on gates and canals throughout the system that do not currently 

have automated controls. The project will provide near real-time data on flow rates, water elevations, 

and control device statuses, and is expected to result in annual water savings of 19,500 acre-feet by 

reducing spills, over-deliveries, and seepage. Conserved water can be stored in Upper Klamath Lake 

for a longer period, which may benefit fish species, including the endangered Shortnosed Sucker and 

Coho Salmon, by increasing lake levels and reducing lake temperatures, while also providing a more 

reliable supply for growers during times of shortage. In addition, conserved water may be available 

for the fall waterfowl migration at the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. The project has 

significant support from stakeholders, including the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge 

Complex, the Farmers Conservation Alliance, and Ducks Unlimited.

North Unit Irrigation District, Optimize Conveyance Efficiency and Control in North 

Unit Irrigation District Main Canal

Reclamation Funding: $244,871 Total Project Cost: $511,611

The North Unit Irrigation District, located in central Oregon, will upgrade the automation at nine 

gated check structures and seven measuring stations along the main canal of its distribution system. 

The improvements will increase conveyance efficiency and operational control, resulting in an 

expected annual water savings of 3,337 acre-feet. Overallocation of the Deschutes River and an 

agreement to adapt dam operations to reduce impact on endangered species has limited District 

water usage to 60-75% of a water user’s minimum water right. The District has shut down 

periodically because of drought and shortage. Water conserved as a result of the project will be 

stored within Haystack Reservoir for a more controlled and targeted release during the irrigation 

season to avoid further reductions during times of drought. 
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Texas

Cameron County Irrigation District No.2, Conversion of Lateral G2 from Open Canal 

to Pipeline

Reclamation Funding: $260,103 Total Project Cost: $578,007

The Cameron County Irrigation District No.2, located in southern Texas, will convert 5,690 feet of 

unlined open canal in a segment of Lateral G2 to a buried polyvinyl chloride pipeline, in an area that 

experiences significant and frequent drought conditions. The project is expected to result in annual 

water savings of 364 acre-feet that is currently lost to seepage, evaporation, and canal bank failures. 

Conserved water will decrease the amount of water pumped from the Rio Grande, leaving more 

water in-stream for habitat and downstream users, and improving drought resiliency in the area. In 

addition, moving the irrigation canal underground removes a barrier for wildlife to access freshwater 

sources and vegetated wetland areas that could serve as habitat.

Cameron County Irrigation District No.2, Conversion of Lateral E from Open Canal to 

Pipeline

Reclamation Funding: $208,954 Total Project Cost: $464,342

The Cameron County Irrigation District No.2 will also convert 3,225 feet of unlined open canal in a 

segment of Lateral E to a buried 42-inch polyvinyl chloride pipeline. The project is expected to 

result in annual water savings of 330 acre-feet that is currently lost to seepage, evaporation, and 

canal bank failures. Conserved water will be used to decrease the amount of water pumped from the 

Rio Grande, leaving more water in-stream for habitat and downstream users, and improving drought 

resiliency in the area. 

Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No.1, Piping of Wyrick Canal (Phase III)

Reclamation Funding: $300,000 Total Project Cost: $763,761

The Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No.1, located in southern Texas, will convert 

3,750 feet of the concrete Wyrick Canal to 48-inch and 42-inch pressurized polyvinyl chloride pipe. 

The Harlingen area is dependent on surface water from the Rio Grande and experiences water 

conflict as a result of drought, over-appropriation of water rights, and population growth. The 

project is expected to result in annual water savings of 68 acre-feet currently lost to seepage and 

evaporation, which will remain in the Rio Grande River Basin to benefit other Rio Grande water 

users in domestic, municipal, industrial, agricultural, ecological, and recreational sectors. 

Santa Cruz Irrigation District No. 15, R-6 Canal Piping Project

Reclamation Funding: $250,000 Total Project Cost: $520,833

The Santa Cruz Irrigation District No. 15, located in southern Texas, will convert 4,515 feet of the 

open concrete lined R-6 Canal to 36-inch polyvinyl chloride pipeline. The project will reduce 

seepage losses and eliminate canal blowouts, resulting in an expected annual water savings of 335 

acre-feet. Water savings from the project is expected to remain in the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Watermaster System, which is currently over allocated and susceptible to long-term drought. 

Additional water in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Watermaster System will benefit the Lower Rio 

Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and ease international conflict over shared water supply 

with Mexico.
13

United Irrigation District, Lining of the Mission Main Canal (Third Lift to the Mile 3-

1/2 Check)

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,111,111

The United Irrigation District, located near McAllen, Texas, will line 5,900 feet of the currently 

concrete lined Mission Main Canal with a geosynthetic composite canal liner covered with shotcrete.

Once complete, the project is expected to result in annual water savings of 660 acre-feet, which is 

currently lost to seepage through the existing concrete liner. The conserved water will remain in the 

Falcon and Amistad Reservoirs for eventual allocation to other users in the Rio Grande System, 

including the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, alleviating pressure on the overallocated water resource shared with Mexico.

Wichita County Water Improvement District No. 2, Water Distribution Efficiency and 

Infrastructure Modernization Project

Reclamation Funding: $160,864 Total Project Cost: $321,745

The Wichita County Water Improvement District No. 2, located in north-central Texas, will convert 

three high-loss segments of the currently concrete lined and earthen PB Lateral Canal to 5,200 feet 

of 27-inch plastic irrigation pipe. During recent years of unprecedented drought, insufficient flows 

required the District to temporarily suspend irrigation deliveries and the Dundee Fish Hatchery was 

forced to close. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,251 acre-feet by 

reducing leaks, seepage, and evaporation losses. Conserved water will help avoid interruptions in 

deliveries during times of drought and make more water available for recreational activities at Lake 

Kemp and Lake Diversion. 

Utah

Heber City Corporation, Secondary Water Metering Project (Phase 1)

Reclamation Funding: $450,000 Total Project Cost: $900,000

The Heber City Corporation, located in northern Utah, will install 596 secondary meters at currently 

unmetered residential connections to the City’s pressurized irrigation system. The project will 

leverage advanced metering infrastructure to better detect leaks and customer overuse, which is 

expected to result in annual water savings of 228 acre-feet. In the near term, conserved water will 

remain in the Provo River Project system to benefit downstream users and help mitigate 

environmental issues associated with the depletion of the Great Salt Lake. In the longer term, water 

savings from secondary metering may be converted to municipal use to help meet the City’s 

increasing water demands in a county where the population is expected to double by 2040.

Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, Landscaping Rebates Programs

Reclamation Funding: $346,848 Total Project Cost: $693,696

The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, located in Salt Lake County, Utah, will administer 

two separate landscape rebate programs for homeowners to install water efficient landscaping. One 

rebate program is to incentivize homeowners to replace lawn park strips with water-efficient 

landscaping and the other is for homeowners to install water-efficient landscaping for projects over 

400 square feet. In total, the District expects to replace 1,720,832 square feet of inefficient 

landscaping, which is expected to result in annual water savings of 79 acre-feet. Incentivizing water-
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efficient landscaping will improve water reliability in an area that has experienced rapid population 

growth and frequent and unpredictable drought patterns.

Midway Irrigation Company, MIC Secondary Water Metering Project

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,028,500

The Midway Irrigation Company, located near Salt Lake City, Utah, will install 750 secondary water 

meters on existing residential secondary irrigation connections. The meters are equipped with 

endpoints that allow for the collection of hourly data using a drive-by reader or a fixed network 

advanced metering infrastructure system. Metering secondary water connections will reduce 

overwatering by residential users, which is expected to result in annual water savings of 293 acrefeet. Improved management of secondary irrigation water will allow the Company to store water for 

longer periods in the Jordanelle Reservoir and avoid reduced deliveries for agricultural users at the 

end of the irrigation season.

South Weber Water Improvement District, South Weber Water Secondary Water 

Metering Project (Phase 2)

Reclamation Funding: $100,000 Total Project Cost: $200,000

The South Weber Water Improvement District, located in northern Utah, will install 153 secondary 

water meters at existing unmetered residential connections to the District’s pressurized irrigation 

system. The metering data will be transmitted from the endpoint to the existing Weber Basin 

advanced metering infrastructure network. This project is expected to conserve 58 acre-feet of water 

per year by tracking actual water usage to identify leaks and consumer overuse. Water conserved 

through the project will remain in the Weber Basin system and will help accommodate future 

residential demands as the District’s population increases. 

Uintah Water Conservancy District, Steinaker Service Canal Enclosure Project (Reaches 

I and II Automation)

Reclamation Funding: $235,950 Total Project Cost: $471,900

The Uintah Water Conservancy District, located in northeastern Utah, will automate each of the 

sixteen turnouts for Reach I and two turnouts for Reach II of the Steinaker Service Canal. Electric 

actuators capable of operating each valve automatically will be installed at each of the 18 individual 

turnouts. Each actuator will be connected to the existing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

system and the system will be upgraded to provide automatic monitoring and remote control of each 

turnout. Once complete, the project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,147 acre-feet, 

which is currently lost to spills and over-deliveries. Drought is common in the project area and the 

Steinaker Reservoir is an off-channel reservoir that does not get excess flows during large 

precipitation years. Conserved water will be used to address shortages during drought years and to 

maintain water levels necessary for recreation and fish habitat at Steinaker Reservoir.

Uintah Water Conservancy District, Ashley Upper and Highline Canals Metering 

Project

Reclamation Funding: $422,171 Total Project Cost: $844,342

The Uintah Water Conservancy District will also install electronic flow meters with digital displays at 

each of the 180 shareholder turnouts on the Ashley Upper and Highline Canals to accurately 
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monitor, control, and record water deliveries. In addition, the District will install an electric actuator 

at a large radial gate to improve operational efficiency on the Ashley Creek diversion. The project 

will reduce operational water losses and is expected to result in annual water savings of 936 acre-feet. 

Conserved water will help avoid reduced allocations in times of shortage and will otherwise be 

stored in the Steinaker Reservoir. In addition, the project will reduce selenium and salinity levels 

carried downstream, positively benefitting the local fish and wildlife environment.

Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Woods Cross and West Bountiful Secondary 

Water Metering Project (Phase III)

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $1,600,000

The Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, located in northern Utah, will install 1,000 secondary 

water meters in the Woods Cross and West Bountiful service areas. The meters will be equipped 

with radios that allow for communication with a fixed network advanced metering infrastructure 

system to provide real-time data to detect leaks and end-use inefficiencies. The area has experienced 

a lowering of the groundwater table from pumping and the effects of multiple years of extreme 

drought. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 380 acre-feet by reducing 

customer overuse. The water conserved will be stored to meet rising municipal demand from 

population growth and to regulate flows in the Davis Aqueduct, which has reached maximum 

capacity. 

West Cache Irrigation Company, North and South Litz Laterals Piping Project

Reclamation Funding: $950,000 Total Project Cost: $2,055,000

The West Cache Irrigation Company, located in northern Utah, will convert 2.5 miles of open 

earthen canal and 0.5 miles of concrete lined canal, identified as the North and South Litz Laterals, 

to pressurized polyvinyl chloride pipe. The Company will also eliminate five individual inefficient 

pump stations and construct one centralized pump station that will efficiently pressurize the entire 

pipeline. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,083 acre-feet, which is

currently lost to seepage and evaporation. Water conserved as a result of the project will be used to 

ensure that all shareholders receive their water allocations during drought or low water years. During 

normal water years, conserved water will remain in-stream in the Bear River, benefiting the Bear 

River Migratory Bird Refuge, which houses the federally protected Yellow-Billed Cuckoo. The more 

reliable pressurized system will also allow farmers to complete on-farm improvements, such as 

converting from flood irrigation to sprinkler irrigation. 

Washington 

Cascade Orchard Irrigation Company, Cascade Orchard Irrigation Company Irrigation 

Efficiency and Pump Exchange Project

Reclamation Funding: $500,000 Total Project Cost: $5,700,000

The Cascade Orchard Irrigation Company, located in central Washington, will replace its current 

gravity-fed diversion system with a new intake and delivery system. The new system will include a 

modernized intake screening system, a 240-horsepower pump station, approximately 25,000 linear 

feet of new delivery pipelines, and fish screening facilities. The Icicle Creek Watershed and the 

Wenatchee River have multiple competing demands for water including irrigation, operation of a 

fish hatchery, municipal use, and in-stream demands for maintaining fish habitat. The project is 
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expected to result in annual water savings of 1,088 acre-feet, which is currently lost to seepage and 

tailwater spills. The project, which is an important step in meeting the requirements of a 2017 

Biological Opinion, will allow the Company to reduce diversions from Icicle Creek and support 

habitat and fish passage needs for Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout. The project has 

support from local stakeholders, including the Icicle Work Group and the Leavenworth Fisheries 

Complex.

Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Open Ditch to Pipeline 

Conversion (Track Lateral D)

Reclamation Funding: $570,965 Total Project Cost: $1,141,930

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, located in central Washington on the 

Yakama Reservation, will construct conveyance improvements for the Track Lateral D irrigation 

canal in an area experiencing severe impacts due to drought. The existing earthen lateral currently 

traverses very porous ground, resulting in seepage losses along with operational spills. The Tribe will 

convert the canal to 15,254 feet of polyvinyl chloride pipeline to increase water use efficiency and 

reliability through optimal flow rates, reduced leakage, and reduced operational losses. The project is 

a top priority for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affair’s Wapato Irrigation Project and the Tribe. The 

project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,504 acre-feet, which will remain in the 

system improving overall water supply and supporting other needs within the Wapato Irrigation 

Project.

Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District, W61F Canal Lining Project

Reclamation Funding: $300,000 Total Project Cost: $784,457

The Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District, located in central Washington, will line 6,518 feet of 

the earthen W61F lateral with a geotextile liner covered with concrete to address seepage losses. The 

project advances the goals of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the three 

Columbia Basin Project irrigation districts, the Washington State Department of Ecology, the 

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Bureau of Reclamation to address 

regional water reliability concerns including drought, groundwater issues, and improved stream flows 

to assist salmon recovery. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,058 acre-feet 

that is currently lost to seepage. The water conserved will be used to meet actions identified in the 

MOU, including offsetting groundwater pumping and enhancing flows in the Columbia River.

City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utilities Advanced Metering Infrastructure 

Deployment Project

Reclamation Funding: $2,000,000 Total Project Cost: $27,229,026

The City of Tacoma will upgrade 107,223 primarily residential manual-read and touch-read water 

meters to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The project is expected to result in annual water 

savings of 2,049 acre-feet by providing customers with near real-time water consumption 

information and improving meter accuracy. Once the project has been completed, the City will 

require less water to be drawn from the Green River. In addition, water conserved will reduce the 

need for groundwater pumping in times of shortages and increase the City’s resiliency against severe 

future drought conditions.
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Wyoming 

Cottonwood Irrigation District, Lateral L-6 and L-7 Replacement Project

Reclamation Funding: $300,000 Total Project Cost: $1,536,370

The Cottonwood Irrigation District, located in western Wyoming, will convert 5,900 feet of 36-inch 

welded steel pipe and 300 feet of 18-inch welded steel pipe on the Laterals L-6 and L-7, to polyvinyl 

chloride pipe. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 3,164 acre-feet, which is 

currently lost to leaks. The project will help avoid reduced allocations for the District’s agricultural 

users during times of shortage and allow for more water to remain in Cottonwood Creek for longer 

periods of time, benefiting recreation and fish species.