Cooperative Watershed Management

 

Reclamations WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP) provides funding to grassroots, local watershed groups to encourage diverse stakeholders to develop collaborative solutions to address their water management needs. A watershed group is a self-sustaining, non-regulatory group that is composed of a diverse array of stakeholders, which may include, but is not limited to, private property owners, non-profit organizations, Federal, state, or local agencies, and tribes. Funding is provided for the support of watershed groups on a competitive basis for the development of watershed groups, watershed restoration planning, watershed management project design, and the implementation of on-the-ground watershed management projects.

Active 15.554 Bureau of Reclamation, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 Information not available. Since 2012, Reclamation has awarded a total of $2.4 million in funding for the establishment or further development of 30 watershed groups in nine states. In FY 2017, Reclamation initiated Phase II of the CWMP by providing approximately $560,000 in cost shared financial assistance for six watershed management projects. For descriptions of previously funded projects, please visit our website at: http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/cwmp/index.html .
Fiscal Year 2018 Information not available.
Fiscal Year 2019 In July 2018, Reclamation announced that 27 entities were selected to receive a total of $2.6 million in CWMP Phase I funding to establish or further develop watershed groups in order to address water quantity, quantity, and restoration needs. In August 2019, Reclamation announced that 3 entities were selected to receive a total of $300,000 in CWMP Phase II funding to implement on-the-ground watershed management projects. For descriptions of previously funded projects, please visit our website at: http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/cwmp/index.html.
Fiscal Year 2020 Reclamation selected 29 projects to receive $2.8 million to complete watershed group development, watershed restoration planning and watershed management project design. The funding is shared with groups across 12 states, including groups in Alaska and Hawaii, who are receiving funding for the first time through this program.
Fiscal Year 2021 Reclamation announced that 11 entities were selected to receive a total of $2.1 million in CWMP Phase II funding to implement on-the-ground watershed management projects.
Fiscal Year 2022 Under the fiscal year 2022 Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I Notice of Funding Opportunity, Reclamation selected 21 entities to receive $3.8 million in Federal funding to complete watershed group development, restoration planning, and watershed management project design. Under the FY 2022 Environmental Water Resource Project Notice of Funding Opportunity, Reclamation selected 27 projects, 2 of which were for watershed groups. In combination, the two watershed groups were selected to received more than $3.7 million dollars in Federal funding.
Fiscal Year 2023 As of July 2023, fiscal year 2023 projects selections have not yet been made. Reclamation anticipates announcing FY23 Environmental Water Resources Projects selections in the fall of 2023 and FY23 Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I selections in spring of 2024. Public Law 111-11, Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, Title VI, Subtitle A, Sec. 6001-6003 (16 USC 1015 et seq.) Watershed Group Development, Restoration Planning, and Watershed Management Project Design: Applicants eligible to receive financial assistance through the Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I Notice of Funding Opportunity are identified below. Applicants (except non-profits organizations) must also be located in one of the following states or territories: 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, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Non-profit organizations must be located in the United States or one of the territories identified above and must be sponsoring the establishment or development of a watershed group located in one of the following states or territories: 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, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico. Applicant Eligibility for New Watershed Groups: Applicants eligible to receive an award as a New Watershed Group include states, Indian Tribes, local and special districts (e.g., irrigation, water districts, water conservation districts), local governmental entities, interstate organizations, non-profit organizations, and institutes of higher education sponsoring a watershed group. To be eligible, applicants must also meet all the following requirements: (1) Be sponsoring the development of a New Watershed Group, (2) Significantly affect or be affected by the quality or quantity of water in a watershed, (3) Be capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources. Applicant Eligibility for Existing Watershed Groups: Applicants eligible to receive an award as an Existing Watershed Group include states, Indian Tribes, local and special districts (e.g., irrigation, water districts, water conservation districts), local governmental entities, interstate organizations, non-profit organizations, and institutes of higher education sponsoring a watershed group. To be eligible, applicants must also be an Existing Watershed Group, which meets the definition of a watershed group as described above in Section A.3. Notice of Funding Opportunity Objectives and is legally incorporated as a non-profit entity; be a participating entity in an Existing Watershed Group; or be a fiscal sponsor of an Existing Watershed Group. Implementation of Watershed Management Projects: Established watershed group, as defined in the Section 6001(5) of the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (Act) that has met the requirements outlined in Section 6002I(2)(A)(iv) of the Act, are eligible to receive funding under the WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects Notice of Funding Opportunity for the implementation of watershed management projects. In summary, a watershed group is a grassroots, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed, represents a diverse group of stakeholders, and is capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources in the watershed. Applicants must also be located in the Western United States or United States Territories including 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, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The Cooperative Watershed Management Program benefits a diverse array of stakeholders, which may include but is not limited to, private property owners, Federal, State, or local agencies, and Indian Tribes that are located in the Western United States or United States Territories including 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, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. Preapplication coordination is not required. However, it is recommended that applicants contact the headquarters point of contact for this listing to discuss their project prior to applying. In addition, all projects that receive Federal funding must comply with all Federal environmental and cultural resource laws. An intergovernmental review may be required for applications submissions from a U.S. state or local government prior to submission. Applicants must contact their State’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Notice of Funding Opportunities for this program are posted on www.grants.gov. Submission of a complete application package is mandatory by the due date identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Proposals received in response to the funding opportunity announcement are reviewed through a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Reclamation will make awards to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year. Deadlines are identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and vary from year to year. See Reclamation's WaterSMART website, https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/, for additional schedule information. Not applicable. Not applicable. Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov. All applications will be evaluated using criteria that give priority based on the diversity and scope of the watershed group, need for project and project benefits, prior planning that supports the project, the applicant's ability and readiness to implement the project, and Presidential and Department of the Interior priorities. Watershed Group Development and Restoration Planning : In 2012, Reclamation began providing funding for the establishment or further development of watershed groups under the WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I Notice of Funding Opportunity. A watershed group is a self-sustaining, non-regulatory, consensus-based group that is composed of a diverse array of stakeholders, which may include, but is not limited to, private property owners, non-profit organizations, Federal, State, or local agencies, and Tribes. As part of Phase I activities, applicants may use funding to perform stakeholder outreach; develop bylaws, a mission statement, watershed management project concepts, a watershed restoration plan; and complete watershed management project design work. For Phase I projects, Reclamation will award a successful applicant up to $100,000 per year for a period of up to three years with no non-Federal cost-share required. Implementation of Watershed Management Projects: Starting in 2017, Reclamation began providing cost-shared financial assistance to watershed groups to implement watershed management projects. These on-the-ground projects, collaboratively developed by members of a watershed group, address critical water supply needs, water quality, restoration needs, and help water users meet competing demands and avoid conflicts over water. Reclamation provides funding to watershed groups for watershed management project implementation through the WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects funding opportunity. Reclamation will award a successful applicant up to $3 million per project over a three-year period. Applicants must contribute a non-Federal cost share of at least 25 - 50% of the total project costs, depending on project type. Performance Reports: rant recipients shall submit Performance Reports on a semi-annual basis. Upon completion of the agreement, recipients shall submit a final Performance Report that demonstrates the applicant’s successful completion of the activities described in the financial assistance agreement. Not applicable. All recipients of Federal awards shall maintain project records in accordance with 2 CFR 200.333 Retention Requirements for Records. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient. Federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities must not impose any other record retention requirements upon non-Federal entities, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.333. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. Development of Watershed Groups and Restoration Planning: A non-Federal cost-share is not required for Phase I activities. Implementation of Watershed Management Projects: Applicants must contribute a non-Federal cost share of at least 25 - 50% of the total project costs, depending on project type. At least a 25 -50% non-Federal cost-share is required for watershed management projects, depending on the project type.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Proposed activities should be completed within 3 years from the project start date. Applicants seeking funding for activities requiring more than 3 years will be considered if they can demonstrate that there will be measurable accomplishments each year. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Payment terms vary by agreement awarded under this program. Payment terms vary by agreement awarded under this program. You can find information regarding Reclamation's regional and local offices online at: https://www.usbr.gov/main/offices.html. Robin Graber
Bureau of Reclamation, Water Resources and Planning Office, P.O. Box 25007, Mail Code: 86-63000
Denver, CO 80225 US
rgraber@usbr.gov
Phone: (303)445-2764 http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/cwmp/index.html 14-0680-0-1-301 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$5,000,000.00; FY 23 est $5,000,000.00; FY 24 est $2,254,000.00; FY 21$4,250,000.00; FY 20$2,250,000.00; FY 19$2,250,000.00; FY 18$2,250,000.00; FY 17$560,000.00; - Appropriations(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$18,000,000.00; FY 23 est $20,000,000.00; FY 24 Estimate Not Available - Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding Range: $20,000 - $3,000,000 Average: $300,000 2 CFR 200 UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRINCIPLES, AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL AWARDS and the applicable OMB Circulars. These documents may also be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Reclamation Office listed below. Fiscal Year 2017 No information available. Phase I: The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley will establish the Boise River Enhancement Network in collaboration with Trout Unlimited, Ecosystem Sciences Foundation, Idaho Rivers United and the South Boise Water Company. The Network will address water quality issues, endangered species and loss of natural habitats in the lower Boise River watershed and will work with stakeholders to increase opportunities for public and private enhancement project collaboration. Phase II: The Eagle Creek Watershed Council, in conjunction with Trout Unlimited, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Buckhorn Valley Metropolitan District (BVMD), will improve instream flows in Abrams Creek, southwest of Eagle, Colorado. Abrams Creek, which supports a core conservation population of Green-Lineage cutthroat trout, suffers from low flows, affecting habitat for the trout and other aquatic species. The Council will pipe a 21,790 linear feet section of the JPO ditch and use the approximately 300 acre-feet of saved water for instream use. This increase to base flows in Abrams creek will benefit the target trout species, as well as other aquatic resources. This project, supported by the Eagle Creek Watershed Plan, has been endorsed by numerous elected officials, conservation groups, government agencies, and water users.
Fiscal Year 2019 Phase I: The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley will establish the Boise River Enhancement Network in collaboration with Trout Unlimited, Ecosystem Sciences Foundation, Idaho Rivers United and the South Boise Water Company. The Network will address water quality issues, endangered species and loss of natural habitats in the lower Boise River watershed and will work with stakeholders to increase opportunities for public and private enhancement project collaboration. Phase II: The Eagle Creek Watershed Council, in conjunction with Trout Unlimited, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Buckhorn Valley Metropolitan District (BVMD), will improve instream flows in Abrams Creek, southwest of Eagle, Colorado. Abrams Creek, which supports a core conservation population of Green-Lineage cutthroat trout, suffers from low flows, affecting habitat for the trout and other aquatic species. The Council will pipe a 21,790 linear feet section of the JPO ditch and use the approximately 300 acre-feet of saved water for instream use. This increase to base flows in Abrams creek will benefit the target trout species, as well as other aquatic resources. This project, supported by the Eagle Creek Watershed Plan, has been endorsed by numerous elected officials, conservation groups, government agencies, and water users.
Fiscal Year 2020 For descriptions of previously funded projects, please visit our website at: http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/cwmp/index.html.
Fiscal Year 2021 For descriptions of previously funded projects, please visit our website at: http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/cwmp/index.html.
Fiscal Year 2022 For descriptions of previously funded projects, please visit our website at: http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/cwmp/index.html.