# Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program FY 2026

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/r25as00210-snow-water-supply-forecasting-program-fy-2026/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361419

> Bureau of Reclamation offered grants of up to $999,999 (at least $300,000) to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses and individuals. It expected to make about 7 awards worth $6.5 million in total. Applications closed on May 5, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | R25AS00210 |
| Agency | Bureau of Reclamation |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | May 5, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $999,999 |
| Award floor | $300,000 |
| Expected awards | 7 |
| Total funding | $6.5 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 15.078 |

## Who can apply

- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Individuals
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

The program office will review all proposed projects to determine whether the application is an eligible activity under the NOFO and can proceed to merit review evaluation. Eligible projects must include the deployment of aerial LiDAR snow surveys to support water supply forecasting. Aerial LiDAR snow survey flights must represent at least 80% of the request for federal funding. Projects should be scoped to quantify benefits to water supply forecasts and water management, as compared to status quo operational snow monitoring and forecasting technologies. Projects not eligible for funding under this NOFO include, but are not limited to: Projects deploying snow monitoring technologies outside of the Reclamation 17-State domain (AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY) Projects unrelated to snow monitoring or the use of snow data in water supply forecasts Projects focused on improving water supply forecasts outside of the Reclamation 17-State domain (AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY)Applicants can only request funding for work that is planned through September 2028.

## What the grant funds

The Bureau of Reclamation"s Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program aims to improve the skill of water supply forecasts by enhancing snow monitoring using emerging technologies to complement existing monitoring techniques and networks. This program was authorized in December 2020 by P.L. 116-260, Sec. 1111.This NOFO invites proposals from eligible applicants to conduct aerial LiDAR snow surveys to improve water supply forecasting. Strong applications should include partnerships with water management and forecasting agencies to share knowledge, use data in forecasts, and assess the usefulness of information for water management decisions. This initiative supports the Bureau of Reclamation's mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public by providing water managers with enhanced estimates of future water availability. The Snow Water Supply Forecasting 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).

## Questions people ask

### Is R25AS00210 still open?

No. It closed on May 5, 2026.

### Who can apply for Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program FY 2026?

Bureau of Reclamation accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses and individuals. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program FY 2026?

Closed May 5, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $999,999 each. About $6.5 million in total across about 7 awards.

### Who has won Snow Water Supply Forecasting grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Oregon State University, The Regents of the University of Colorado, Truckee-Carson Irrigation District. The program made 20 awards worth $16.0 million in that time.