Watershed Rehabilitation Program (10.916)
Watershed Rehabilitation Program (Assistance Listing 10.916) is run by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $159 million in 79 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $2.0 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $538,788. Half of the 79 awards fell between $169,545 and $1.2 million, and they ranged from $4,400 to $23.6 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$159 million
- Grant awards79
- Typical award$538,788
- Awarded in FY 2025$19.3 million
- Size rank673 of 1824
- Type of assistanceAdvisory services and counseling
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $33.3 million in fiscal 2021 to $19.3 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 673rd largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 97% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 20 states and territories.
What the program funds
To provide technical and financial assistance to rehabilitate dams originally constructed with assistance of USDA Watershed Programs. Rehabilitation must extend the life of the dam and meet applicable safety and performance standards. Priority is given to dams that maximize risk reduction and that could result in loss of life if the dam should fail.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Sponsoring local organizations for existing watershed projects that include dams that were originally constructed with assistance from one of the following water resource programs: Public Law 78-534, Section 13 of the Flood Control Act of 1944; Public Law 156-67, the pilot watershed program authorized under the heading Flood Prevention of the Department of Agriculture Appropriation Act of 1954; Public Law 83-566, the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954; and Subtitle H of Title XV of the Agriculture and Flood Act of 1981, commonly known as the Resource Conservation and Development Program.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Technical assistance is provided for planning, designing, and work necessary to extend service life of dam. Financial assistance for implementing the works of improvement is provided by cost-sharing. Watershed rehabilitation projects may include reconstruction or decommissioning of the dam and relocation or flood proofing of downstream property and infrastructure.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Federal cost-share is limited to 65 percent of the total eligible rehabilitation cost with a limit of 100 percent of the actual construction cost. Sponsors are required to obtain all land and water rights and permits prior to installation of project measures, and to provide operation and maintenance for the life of the works of improvement.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Deadlines do not apply
Award range and average, in the agency's words
$0 to $6,451,000; $770,000 average per state.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Watershed Rehabilitation Program (10.916) awarded$159 million across 79 grant awards, an average of $2.0 million per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 85% of the money, nonprofits 0.5%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 75 | $135 million | 85% |
| Other | 1 | $23.6 million | 15% |
| Nonprofits | 3 | $764,996 | 0.5% |
By state
12 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 7 | $36.7 million |
| Georgia | 9 | $35.8 million |
| Missouri | 1 | $23.6 million |
| Texas | 23 | $21.8 million |
| Arkansas | 1 | $13.6 million |
| Mississippi | 2 | $8.8 million |
| Virginia | 5 | $4.4 million |
| Oklahoma | 2 | $3.0 million |
| North Carolina | 4 | $2.8 million |
| Utah | 3 | $2.0 million |
| North Dakota | 6 | $1.7 million |
| Nebraska | 3 | $1.5 million |
| Kentucky | 2 | $906,280 |
| Oregon | 1 | $735,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $659,075 |
| Vermont | 1 | $382,376 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | $212,000 |
| Maryland | 1 | $196,000 |
| Illinois | 4 | $166,600 |
| Indiana | 1 | $84,232 |