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WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program

Federal funding opportunity R26AS00349 from Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior).

Apply on Grants.gov →Application closes February 15, 2028

Posted
June 10, 2026
Closes
February 15, 2028
Award ceiling
$300,000
Award floor
$50,000
Program funding
$25,000,000
Expected awards
100
Cost sharing
No
Instrument
Grant
Assistance listing
15.554
Category
Natural Resources
Archives
May 15, 2028

Program funding history

Awards made under Assistance Listing 15.554 across FY2024–FY2026, from public federal spending records.

FY2024 obligated
$8.1M
FY2025 obligated
$7.1M
FY2026 (to date) obligated
$2.2M
Awards in window
134

Top recipients: Nfria-wserc Conservation Center, Inc., Trout Unlimited, Inc., Ocpw, Jefferson River Watershed Council, Walla Walla County Conservation

Source: USAspending.gov · refreshed August 2026

Synopsis

The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program funding opportunity invites eligible entities to apply for funding to develop local solutions to address their water management needs. This opportunity provides funding for watershed group development, restoration planning, and watershed management project planning and design. By providing this funding, Reclamation promotes water reliability and cooperation between stakeholders to reduce conflict, facilitate solutions to complex water issues, and stretch limited water supplies.The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management 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

Eligible ApplicantsTo be eligible under this funding opportunity, you must be either an existing watershed group or sponsoring the establishment of a new watershed group as defined in the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (see definition below) that is 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. As defined in Section 6002 of the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (see "Legislative Authority" below for full citation), a "watershed group," is a grassroot, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the watershed and is capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources. A watershed group makes decisions on a consensus basis, and represents a diverse group of stakeholders, such as hydroelectric producers, livestock grazing, timber production, land development, recreation or tourism, irrigated agriculture, the environment, municipal water supplies, private property owners, Federal, state and local governments, and Tribes. New Watershed Groups: You must be a state, Tribe, local or special district (e.g., irrigation, water district, water conservation district), local governmental entity, interstate organization, a non-profit organization, or an institute of higher education sponsoring a watershed group located in a state or territory identified above. In addition, you must meet all the following requirements:Be sponsoring the development of a new watershed group;Be able to significantly affect or be affected by the quality or quantity of water in the watershed; andBe capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources. Existing Watershed Groups: Your watershed group must:Meet the definition of a watershed group as described under the…

How to apply

Applications go through the official government listing. Grants Radar links you straight to the source — applying is free.

View on Grants.gov

Agency contact: Bureau of Reclamation · [email protected] · tbd

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