Water Resources on Indian Lands (15.037)
Water Resources on Indian Lands (Assistance Listing 15.037) is run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $22.7 million in 40 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $568,672 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $146,102. Half of the 40 awards fell between $50,000 and $648,331, and they ranged from $10,612 to $3.3 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$22.7 million
- Grant awards40
- Typical award$146,102
- Awarded in FY 2025$2.6 million
- Size rank1268 of 1824
- Type of assistanceDirect payments for specified use, provision of specialized services, advisory services and counseling
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $4.1 million in fiscal 2021 to $2.6 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1268th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 98% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 14 states and territories.
What the program funds
Water Management, Planning and Pre-Development for Water Resources gives Tribes the opportunity to further Indian self-determination by establishing their own priorities to manage, conserve and utilize reservation water resources on Indian Trust lands.
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
Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations authorized by Indian tribal governments.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds are used by tribes to conduct water management and planning project and activities for the purpose of managing and conserving their water resources and to participate in the on-going water rights negotiation and litigation activities to protect and secure their lawful water rights. All awards are project/proposal specific and are the result of a nationwide competitve process.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Annual Deadline is September 15
Award range and average, in the agency's words
The range is $10,000 to $200,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Water Management, Planning and Pre-Development for Water Resources allocations funded necessary technical research, studies, and other information for Indian tribes to serve as informed and prudent managers of their water resources on Indian Trust lands through partnerships or through coordination and cooperation with other governmental entities to obtain information describing surface and ground water assessments, inventories, monitoring, modeling and gauging. Additionally, these funds are used for the preparation of comprehensive reservation water management and development plans, use surveys, interagency drought management planning, and necessary assessments to define and characterize tribal water resources.Fiscal Year2026: Water Management, Planning and Pre-Development for Water Resources allocations funded necessary technical research, studies, and other information for Indian tribes to serve as informed and prudent managers of their water resources on Indian Trust lands through partnerships or through coordination and cooperation with other governmental entities to obtain information describing surface and ground water assessments, inventories, monitoring, modeling and gauging. Additionally, these funds are used for the preparation of comprehensive reservation water management and development plans, use surveys, interagency drought management planning, and necessary assessments to define and characterize tribal water resources.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Water Resources on Indian Lands (15.037) awarded$22.7 million across 40 grant awards, an average of $568,672 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District | New Mexico | 2 | $4.8 million |
| Fort Peck Water Users Association Inc | Montana | 1 | $3.3 million |
| Big Horn Irrigation District | Montana | 1 | $2.5 million |
| Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc | Florida | 1 | $2.1 million |
| Cal Poly Corporation | California | 2 | $1.7 million |
| Little Horn Irrigation District Board | Montana | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Conservation Legacy | Colorado | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Mi'Kmaq Nation | Maine | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians | Mississippi | 4 | $606,554 |
| Ray Canal Water Users Association | Wyoming | 1 | $562,746 |
| Crowheart Bench Water Users Association | Wyoming | 2 | $514,027 |
| Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Maine | 1 | $511,088 |
| Tongue River Water Users Association | Montana | 1 | $223,300 |
| Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe | Massachusetts | 1 | $221,500 |
| Leclair Irrigation District | Wyoming | 1 | $193,843 |
| Pamunkey Indian Tribe | Virginia | 1 | $149,296 |
| Comanche Nation | Oklahoma | 1 | $146,178 |
| Colorado River Indian Tribes | Arizona | 1 | $146,026 |
| A Canal Irrigators Association | Wyoming | 2 | $140,723 |
| Miccosukee Corporation | Florida | 3 | $112,000 |
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 57% of the money, tribes 25% and colleges and universities 7.6%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 10 | $13.1 million | 57% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 22 | $5.6 million | 25% |
| Colleges and universities | 2 | $1.7 million | 7.6% |
| Nonprofits | 1 | $1.5 million | 6.5% |
| Other | 5 | $878,049 | 3.9% |
By state
7 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | 6 | $7.7 million |
| New Mexico | 2 | $4.8 million |
| Florida | 6 | $2.3 million |
| Maine | 2 | $1.8 million |
| California | 3 | $1.8 million |
| Colorado | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Wyoming | 7 | $1.4 million |
| Mississippi | 4 | $606,554 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $221,500 |
| Virginia | 1 | $149,296 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $146,178 |
| Arizona | 1 | $146,026 |
| Louisiana | 3 | $120,614 |
| Alabama | 2 | $100,000 |