Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement (YRBWE)

Within the Yakima River Basin: (1) to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife through improved water management; improved instream flows; improved water quality; protection, creation and enhancement of wetlands; and by other appropriate means of habitat improvement; (2) to improve the reliability of water supply for irrigation; (3) to authorize a Yakima River basin water conservation program that will improve the efficiency of water delivery and use; enhance basin water supplies; improve water quality; protect, create and enhance wetlands, and determine the amount of basin water needs that can be met by water conservation measures; (4) to realize sufficient water savings from the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program so that not less than 40,000 acre-feet of water savings per year are achieved by the end of the fourth year of the Basin Conservation Program; (5) to encourage voluntary transactions among public and private entities which result in the implementation of water conservation measures, practices and facilities; and (6) to provide for the implementation by the Yakama Indian Nation at its sole discretion of (A) Wapato Irrigation Project improvements, (B) an irrigation demonstration project on the Yakama Indian Reservation using water savings from system improvements to the Wapato Irrigation Project, and (C) a Toppenish Creek corridor enhancement project integrating agricultural, fish, wildlife, and cultural resources.

State of Washington, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, water and irrigation districts, and water rights owners located in the project area.

Anyone/General Public, Intrastate, Local, Individual/Family, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments within the project area.

Single Source/Notice of Intent to Award announcements for this program, along with registration procedures, application packages and instructions, SF-424 forms and any other forms to be used to submit application information, points of contact, and procedures for submitting applications will be available on www.grants.gov.

All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program funding announcement. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by a proposal evaluation panel comprised of personnel from the Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, who are qualified experts in the program area. Applications will be reviewed against YRBWEP Authority criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the funding announcement. Final selection will be determined by the Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, or regional officials, as applicable to the project. Entities meeting the basic criteria for participation in the YRBWEP must enter into a cost sharing agreement prior to beginning project work.

Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project.