Grants / Department of the Interior / Bureau of Reclamation

R22AS00020: WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2022

Closed Closed October 5, 2021 Opportunity R22AS00020 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Bureau of Reclamation notices from 2021.

• Award ceiling$2.0 million
• Total funding$16.5 million
• Cost sharingRequired
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement, Grant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Category A: States, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts; state, regional, or local authorities whose members include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and, other organizations with water or power delivery authority. Category B: Nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership and with the agreement of an entity described in Category A.All applicants must 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.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief awards averaged $3.0 million; this notice allows up to $2.0 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (83% over five years) went to state and local governments.
• The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.

What the grant funds

The objective of this NOFO is to invite eligible applicants (Section C.1) to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on Drought Resiliency Projects that will increase the reliability of water supplies; improve water management; and provide benefits for fish, wildlife, and the environment to mitigate impacts caused by drought. Projects carried out through Drought Resiliency Project Grants can increase water management flexibility, making our water supply more resilient. This helps to prepare for and address the impacts of drought. Proposals submitted under this NOFO must demonstrate that the proposed project is supported by an existing drought planning effort. It is a well-established principle that proactively identifying resiliency projects through drought planning, in advance of a crisis, is far more cost effective than emergency response. As stated on the National Drought Mitigation Center website, drought.unl.edu:One frequently cited estimate from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is that “mitigation” —taking steps ahead of time to prevent known impacts from a natural disaster—saves $4 for every $1 expended. Planning ahead is generally seen as more efficient and more effective than measures taken in crisis mode. Drought researchers have found that after-the-fact assistance to farmers, for example, is expensive and doesn’t necessarily reach the right people. Proposed projects that are supported by an existing drought plan are prioritized. This prioritization will help ensure that projects funded under this NOFO are well thought out, have public support, and have been identified as the best way to address vulnerabilities to drought. How to use Grants.gov Webinar and PowerPoint Webinar https://youtu.be/uhETFM21HM4 PowerPoint https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/docs/GrantsGovApplicantGeneralOverview-USBR-7-2021.pdf

Category: Natural Resources.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.