WaterSMART Drought Response Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Program Objective
The Drought Response Program provides cost-shared financial assistance for entities to develop or update comprehensive drought contingency plans that include drought monitoring, vulnerability assessments, mitigation and response actions, an operational and administrative framework, and a plan update process.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Department/Agency of U.S. State
- County Government
- Municipality/Township Government
- Federally Recognized Tribal Government
- Tribal Government (other)
- Other Special District Government
Eligible applicants include States, Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, or other organizations with water or power delivery authority located within Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Utah, Washington, America Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Beneficiaries
- Other
General public, entities with water or power delivery authority, state, county, and local governmental entities, and Tribes located in eligible states and territories previously described in applicant eligibility.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Proposals received in response to the funding opportunity are reviewed through a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the funding opportunity. Reclamation will make awards to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year. Reclamation will make awards to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 120 to 180 days
The approval process generally takes 6 to 8 months.
Program details & compliance
Description
Through the Drought Response Program, Reclamation provides cost-shared financial assistance to entities in the 17 western United States with power or water delivery authority for developing a new or updating an existing drought contingency plan (DCP). A DCP addresses the following elements:
1. Drought Monitoring. – The plan must establish a process for monitoring near and long-term water availability, and a framework for predicting the probability of future droughts or confirming an existing drought.
2. Vulnerability Assessment. – The plan must include a vulnerability assessment evaluating the risks and impacts of drought.
3. Mitigation Actions. – The plan must identify, evaluate, and prioritize mitigation actions and activities that will build long-term resiliency to drought and that will mitigate the risks posed by drought.
4. Response Actions. – The plan must identify, evaluate, and prioritize response actions and activities that can be implemented during a drought to mitigate the impacts.
5. Operational and Administrative Framework. – An operational and administrative framework must be developed to identify who is responsible for undertaking the actions necessary to implement each element of the plan, including communicating with the public about those actions.
6. Plan Development and Update Process. – The plan must describe the process that was undertaken to develop the plan, including how stakeholders were engaged and how input was considered. In addition, the plan must also include a process and schedule for monitoring, evaluating, and updating the drought contingency plan.
Mission Categories
Primary: Community Water Supply
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
The assistance can be used to develop or update a DCP. This can include, but is not limited, the hiring of consultants for plan development, materials and supplies, computer modeling, and public scoping.
Restrictions
Each Notice of Funding Opportunity offered under this listing includes specific information about ineligible activities.
Required Documentation
(1) A detailed written technical proposal including background data regarding the applicant, such as location, a detailed scope of work separating the work into major tasks, detail the stages of the proposed project, include an estimated project schedule showing the stages and the duration of the proposed work, including major milestones and dates.
(2) A funding plan showing how the applicant will pay for its 50% cost share requirement, and an official resolution adopted by the applicant’s board of directors or governing body.
Matching Requirements
at least 50%
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