Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement (YRBWE) (15.531)
Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement (YRBWE) (Assistance Listing 15.531) is run by the Bureau of Reclamation, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $10.4 million in 6 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.7 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $514,535. Half of the 6 awards fell between $145,325 and $1.3 million, and they ranged from $92,457 to $11.2 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$10.4 million
- Grant awards6
- Typical award$514,535
- Awarded in FY 2025$1.5 million
- Size rank1,480 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $400,328 in fiscal 2021 to $1.5 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1480th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- Awards went to recipients in 1 states and territories.
What the program funds
Within the Yakima River Basin: (1) to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife through improved water management; improved instream flows; improved water quality; protection, creation and enhancement of wetlands; and by other appropriate means of habitat improvement; (2) to improve the reliability of water supply for irrigation; (3) to authorize a Yakima River basin water conservation program that will improve the efficiency of water delivery and use; enhance basin water supplies; improve water quality; protect, create and enhance wetlands, and determine the amount of basin water needs that can be met by water conservation measures; (4) to realize sufficient water savings from the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program so that not less than 40,000 acre-feet of water savings per year are achieved by the end of the fourth year of the Basin Conservation Program; (5) to encourage voluntary transactions among public and private entities which result in the implementation of water conservation measures, practices and facilities; and (6) to provide for the implementation by the Yakama Indian Nation at its sole discretion of (A) Wapato Irrigation Project improvements, (B) an irrigation demonstration project on the Yakama Indian Reservation using water savings from system improvements to the Wapato Irrigation Project, and (C) a Toppenish Creek corridor enhancement project integrating agricultural, fish, wildlife, and cultural resources.
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
State of Washington, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, water and irrigation districts, and water rights owners located in the project area.
What the money can and cannot pay for
To participate in the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program an entity must submit a proposed water conservation plan to the Secretary of the Interior. Assistance is limited to those entities (districts, irrigation districts, individuals, or other entities) that equip all surface water delivery systems within their boundaries with volumetric water meters or equally effective water measuring methods within five years of the date of enactment of this Act. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation are not included in the provisions of this, Section 1203, except as to any funds specifically applied for from the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program. The Secretary of the Interior may use appropriated funds to purchase, or lease, land, water, or water rights from an entity or individual willing to limit or forego water use on a temporary or permanent basis. Funds used for purchase or lease under this paragraph are not subject to the cost sharing provisions of Section 1203(d).
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.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Range: $90,000 to $3,307,000 Average: $889,971
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Water savings project in the Yakima Basin by decreasing losses due to open canal being modified with enclosed piping and lining.Fiscal Year2026: Water savings project in the Yakima Basin by decreasing losses due to open canal being modified with enclosed piping and lining
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement (YRBWE) (15.531) awarded $10.4 million across 6 grant awards, an average of $1.7 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyside Division Board of Control | Washington | 3 | $9.9 million |
| State of Washington | Washington | 1 | $288,222 |
| Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation | Washington | 1 | $96,551 |
| Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District | Washington | 1 | $92,457 |
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 98% of the money, tribes 0.8% and nonprofits 0.8%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 3 | $11.6 million | 98% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 1 | $96,551 | 0.8% |
| Nonprofits | 1 | $92,457 | 0.8% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 6 | $10.4 million |