WaterSMART: Environmental Water Resources Projects (EWRP) 

Task A: Primary project purpose must be to provide more reliable water supplies for ecological benefits. Activities:

• Canal lining or piping; irrigation flow measurements; and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) automation. 
  

Task B: Primary project purpose must be to provide ecological benefits. Activities: 

• Improving fish passage and hatcheries; water management or infrastructure improvements to improve water supply reliability; and salinity or temperature control projects. 
  

Task C: Projects must have a clear nexus to water resources or water resources management. Activities: 

• Restoration of aquatic and riparian habitat; restoration of connectivity between river, floodplains, and wetlands; nature-based solutions; improving water quality and temperature; enhance commercial, recreational, subsistence, or Tribal ceremonial fishing, and river-based recreation; removing invasive species; forest management; fuels management; post-wildland fire restoration. 

Category A Applicants:

• States, Tribes, Irrigation Districts, and Water Districts;
• State, Regional, or Local Authorities (the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority); and 
• Other organizations with water or power delivery authority. 
  

Category B Applicants: 

• Nonprofit conservation organizations—including watershed groups—acting in partnership with, and with the agreement of, a Category A entity. 
  

Category C Applicants: 

• Non-profit conservation organizations submitting an application for a project to implement a nature-based solution on Federal land may submit an application without a Category A partner, if they demonstrate that entities described in Category A from the applicable service area have been notified and do not object to the project. 
  

*Multiple applications for funding may be submitted for consideration under this funding opportunity, provided that the project scopes are not duplicative. 
**Category A entities are limited to a total of $3,000,000 in Federal funding per Application Period. Category B applicants may be considered for multiple awards up to a total of $15,000,000 per Application Period, if the Category A partners are different for each project. 

• By request, Reclamation can provide technical assistance after the award of a project; technical assistance should be discussed with Reclamation staff prior to applying.
• Total Project Costs shall not exceed $6,000,000.
• Project awards will be made through grants or cooperative agreements as applicable to each project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, the recipient should expect Reclamation to have substantial involvement in the project.
• All applicants and projects must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA). 

Watershed Groups Definition:

• Grassroots, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed.
• Capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources in the watershed.
• Makes decisions on a consensus basis.
• Represents a diverse group of stakeholders from different water use sectors, including hydroelectric producers; livestock grazing; timber production; land development; recreation or tourism; irrigated agriculture; the environment; municipal water suppliers, private property owners; Federal, state, and local governments; Tribes; and disadvantaged communities.