# Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/r25as00279-small-scale-water-efficiency-projects/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361414

> Bureau of Reclamation offered grants of up to $125,000 (at least $1,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 50 awards worth $4.0 million in total. Applications closed on June 2, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | R25AS00279 |
| Agency | Bureau of Reclamation |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | June 2, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $125,000 |
| Award floor | $1,000 |
| Expected awards | 50 |
| Total funding | $4.0 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 15.507 |

## Who can apply

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

Eligible Applicants - 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; andOther organizations with water or power delivery authority. Category A applicants must be located in the Western United States or Territories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended and supplemented; 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. All Category B applicants must be located in the United States, or the specific Territories identified above. Note: Partners do not necessarily need to contribute cost share funding. Ineligible Applicants: Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:Federal Governmental entitiesIndividuals Institutes of higher education

## What the grant funds

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 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). The goal of the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects NOFO is to invite eligible entities to apply for funding to implement projects that conserve water and enhance water supply reliability in water delivery systems. It encourages the implementation of small-scale projects identified through prior planning efforts, such as canal lining, water delivery automation, flow measurement, and other projects that increase water efficiency.

## Questions people ask

### Is R25AS00279 still open?

No. It closed on June 2, 2026. A newer notice is open: R26AS00017, closes September 8, 2027 (305 days left).

### Who can apply for Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects?

Bureau of Reclamation accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects?

Closed June 2, 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 $125,000 each. About $4.0 million in total across about 50 awards.

### Who has won WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Trout Unlimited, Inc., The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, North Kern Water Storage District. The program made 673 awards worth $421 million in that time.