Water Resources on Indian Lands

CFDA 15.037 Active Direct Payments for Specified Use
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$23.2M FY2025
$11.8M
FY18
$20.8M
FY19
$15.3M
FY20
$44.4M
FY21
$5.6M
FY22
$33.8M
FY23
$40.6M
FY24
$23.2M
FY25*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2024 Tribal Priority Allocations (TPA) for Water Resources gives Tribes the opportunity to further Indian self-determination by establishing their own priorities to provide a sustainable water supply on Indian Trust lands.
FY2025 Tribal Priority Allocations (TPA) for Water Resources gives Tribes the opportunity to further Indian self-determination by establishing their own priorities to provide a sustainable water supply on Indian Trust lands.
FY2026 Tribal Priority Allocations (TPA) for Water Resources gives Tribes the opportunity to further Indian self-determination by establishing their own priorities to provide a sustainable water supply on Indian Trust lands.

Program Objective

To support Indian tribes in the effective and efficient management, planning, and use of their water resources.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Federally recognized tribes
  • Native American organizations

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations authorized by Indian tribal governments.

Beneficiaries

  • 20
  • 36
  • 9

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and their members and Native American Organizations.

How to Apply

Application Procedure

The Bureau's application and prioritization procedure for water programs funding has been published as a Notice in the Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 201, Wednesday, October 19, 2005 ("Notice of Revised Instructions for Preparing and Prioritizing Water Program Funding Requests"). Completed applications should be submitted by the established deadline to the local BIA agency office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Award Procedure

Awards are made by the Deputy Bureau Director, Office of Trust Services, Central Office, based on the prioritization of all applications received through a thorough evaluation and scoring by a six-person review team. Awards are usually made shortly after the review team has completed its reviews of all proposals received in Central Office by the due date of September 15th. Any awards are subject to the availability of the congressional appropriations for the new fiscal year.

There are no set times for approval or disapproval.

Program details & compliance

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Funds are used by tribes to conduct water management and planning project and activities for the purpose of managing and conserving their water resources and to participate in the on-going water rights negotiation and litigation activities to protect and secure their lawful water rights. All awards are project/proposal specific and are the result of a nationwide competitve process.

Required Documentation

Initial application for financial assistance must be accompanied by a resolution of the governing body of the Indian tribe.

Matching Requirements

Applications are evaluated and scored based on weighted criteria that have a maximum scoring range of 100 points (congressional and court mandates automatically score 100). No matching requirement, however, applications with available matching funds may score higher.

Reporting & Compliance

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Brenda Hatathlie
720 310 1282
Civil Engineer, Lakewood, CO 80401
Juanita Mendoza
2022083559
1849 C Street, N.W. Bureau of Indian Education, MS 4657-MIB, Washington, DC 20240
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2025-08-19. Spec v1.0. Last synced: 2026-05-30 02:36:24.