WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program
🏛 Bureau of Reclamation
Can you apply?
This grant is for watershed groups and entities in western U.S. states and U.S. territories. Eligible applicants include existing watershed groups or sponsors establishing new groups. New groups must be states, Tribes, local districts, nonprofits, or federal agencies. All applicants must address water availability and quality issues using consensus-based, diverse stakeholder representation. Funded activities include watershed group development, restoration planning, and management project planning and design.
Program description
The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program funding opportunity invites eligible entities to apply for funding to develop local solutions to address their water management needs. This opportunity provides funding for watershed group development, restoration planning, and watershed management project planning and design. By providing this funding, Reclamation promotes water reliability and cooperation between stakeholders to reduce conflict, facilitate solutions to complex water issues, and stretch limited water supplies.The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative and work plan
- Budget and budget justification
- Letters of support from stakeholders
- Proof of nonprofit or governmental status (if applicable)
- Watershed group documentation or establishment plan
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Reclamation
- 📧 bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov
- 📞 tbd
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 15.554 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.554). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2018 | $2,250,000 | |
| 2019 | $2,250,000 | |
| 2020 | $2,250,000 | |
| 2021 | $4,250,000 | |
| 2022 | $5,000,000 | |
| 2023 | $3,776,160 | |
| 2025 est. | $7,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $5,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Existing watershed groups or sponsors establishing new ones in eligible states/territories. New groups must be sponsored by states, Tribes, local districts, nonprofits, or federal agencies.
What states are eligible?
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
What activities can be funded?
Watershed group development, restoration planning, watershed management project planning, and design work. Activities must address water availability and quality issues.
What is the funding range?
Awards range from $50,000 to $300,000. The total program funding pool is $25,000,000 across all awards.
Is cost sharing required?
No cost sharing or matching funds are required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly demonstrate how your watershed group represents diverse stakeholders (agriculture, environment, government, tribes, private landowners, recreation). Diversity is a core requirement.
- Focus your proposal on local water management solutions and how your group makes decisions by consensus. Emphasize stakeholder cooperation.
- Develop realistic timelines and budgets for watershed planning or restoration design work. Show how funding will produce tangible deliverables.
- Emphasize how your project addresses water reliability, reduces stakeholder conflict, or extends limited water supplies in your region.
- Build strong letters of support from key stakeholders in your watershed. Show genuine buy-in across different interest groups.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without diverse stakeholder representation or failing to demonstrate consensus-based decision making. Proposing activities outside water availability and quality focus. Submitting vague budgets without clear deliverables or timelines.
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