WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2024

Background
The U.S. Department of the Interior's WaterSMART Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department's priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts.
The WaterSMART Drought Response Program supports a proactive approach to drought by providing financial assistance to develop and update comprehensive drought plans (Drought Contingency Planning) and implement projects that will build long-term resilience to drought (Drought Resiliency Projects).

Grant Details
Projects that may be funded under this NOFO are divided into four task areas (Task A, B, C, or D), and a brief summary of each task area is provided below. For more detailed information regarding task areas, please see Section C.4. Eligible Projects.

Task A: Increasing the Reliability of Water Supplies through Infrastructure Improvements.

Task B: Increasing the Reliability of Water Supplies Through Groundwater Recovery.

Task C: Projects to Improve Water Management through Decision Support Tools, Modeling, and Measurement.

Task D: Construction of domestic water supply projects for Tribes or disadvantaged communities that do not have reliable access to water supplies.

Eligibility Requirements
Category A applicants must 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. Category B applicants must be in the United States or one of the Territories identified above.

Period of Performance
Anticipated Award Date: October 31, 2024
Anticipated Project Completion Date: October 31, 2026 – October 31, 2027

Grant Value
Drought Resiliency Projects Tasks A-C:
Funding Group I: Up to $500,000 per agreement for a project that can be completed within two years.
Funding Group II: Up to $2,000,000 per agreement for a project that can be completed within three years.
Funding Group III: Up to $5,000,000 per agreement for a project that can be completed within three years.
Domestic Water Supply Projects Task D:
Up to $10,000,000 per agreement that can be completed within three years.

Place of Performance
Category A applicants must 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.