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WaterSMART Drought Response Program

Federal funding opportunity R26AS00016 from Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior).

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Posted
March 5, 2026
Closes
See announcement
Award ceiling
$1,500,000
Award floor
$25,000
Program funding
$13,500,000
Expected awards
20
Cost sharing
Yes
Instrument
Cooperative Agreement, Grant
Assistance listing
15.514
Category
Natural Resources
Archives
October 3, 2031

Program funding history

Awards made under Assistance Listing 15.514 across FY2024–FY2026, from public federal spending records.

FY2024 obligated
$3.3M
FY2025 obligated
$296.5M
FY2026 (to date) obligated
$25.7M
Awards in window
148

Top recipients: State Engineer, New Mexico Office of the, Utah Department-natural Resrce, Patterson Irrigation District, Web Water Development Association, Inc., City of Santa Rosa

Source: USAspending.gov · refreshed July 2026

Synopsis

Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and other entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply and hydropower reliability. The WaterSMART Drought Response Program NOFO invites eligible applicants to submit proposals for projects designed to improve drought resilience by developing effective water management strategies and drought contingency plans. Funding under the Drought Response Program supports a range of initiatives including infrastructure improvements for increased water storage and distribution capabilities, water source diversification, decision-making tools for water management, and comprehensive planning to prepare for and respond to drought conditions. WaterSMART Drought Response 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

Applicants eligible to receive an award under this funding opportunity are described below. Category A Applicants States, Tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts; State, regional, or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and Other organizations with water or power delivery authority. Category A applicants must be located in the Western United States or Territories; specifically: 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 U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Category B Applicants: Nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership with, and with the agreement of an entity described in Category A. Category B applicants should include with their application a letter from the Category A partner stating that the Category A partner: Is acting in partnership with the applicant;Agrees to the submittal and content of the application; andIntends to participate in the project in some way, for example, by providing input, feedback, or other support for the project. Partners do not necessarily need to contribute cost share funding. All Category B applicants must be located in the United States or the specific Territories identified above. Ineligible Applicants - Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:Federal Governmental entitiesIndividuals Institutes of higher education PLEASE NOTE: Applicants in Puerto Rico and Alaska and Category B applicants are not eligible to apply for Drought Contingency Plans as applicant eligibility is defined in the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1999, as amended.

How to apply

Applications go through the official government listing. Grants Radar links you straight to the source.

View on Grants.gov

Agency contact: Bureau of Reclamation · bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov · tbd

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