# WaterSMART Drought Response Program

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/r26as00016-watersmart-drought-response-program/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361415

> Bureau of Reclamation offered grants of up to $1.5 million (at least $25,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 20 awards worth $13.5 million in total. Applications closed on July 28, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | R26AS00016 |
| Agency | Bureau of Reclamation |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | July 28, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $1.5 million |
| Award floor | $25,000 |
| Expected awards | 20 |
| Total funding | $13.5 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 15.514 |

## Who can apply

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

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; and Other organizations with water or power delivery authority. Category A applicants must be located in the Western United States or Territories; 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. Partners do not necessarily need to contribute cost share funding. All Category B applicants must be located in the United States or the specific Territories identified above. Ineligible Applicants - Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:Federal Governmental entitiesIndividuals Institutes of higher education PLEASE NOTE: Applicants in Puerto Rico and Alaska and Category B applicants are not eligible to apply for Drought Contingency Plans as applicant eligibility is defined in the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1999, as amended.

## 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 Drought Response Program NOFO invites eligible applicants to submit proposals for projects designed to improve drought resilience by developing effective water management strategies and drought contingency plans. Funding under the Drought Response Program supports a range of initiatives including infrastructure improvements for increased water storage and distribution capabilities, water source diversification, decision-making tools for water management, and comprehensive planning to prepare for and respond to drought conditions. WaterSMART Drought Response 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 R26AS00016 still open?

No. It closed on July 28, 2026.

### Who can apply for WaterSMART Drought Response Program?

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 WaterSMART Drought Response Program?

Closed July 28, 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 $1.5 million each. About $13.5 million in total across about 20 awards.

### Who has won Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were State Engineer, New Mexico Office of the, Utah Department-Natural Resrce, Patterson Irrigation District. The program made 157 awards worth $467 million in that time.