SECURE Water Act – Research Agreements (15.560)
SECURE Water Act – Research Agreements (Assistance Listing 15.560) is run by the Bureau of Reclamation, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $65.6 million in 125 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $524,560 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $199,430. Half of the 125 awards fell between $133,747 and $350,940, and they ranged from $12,056 to $15.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$65.6 million
- Grant awards125
- Typical award$199,430
- Awarded in FY 2025$23.8 million
- Size rank943 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants (cooperative agreements)
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $3.3 million in fiscal 2021 to $23.8 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 943rd largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 78% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 26 states and territories.
What the program funds
To fund research activities that are designed to conserve water resources, increase the efficiency of the use of water resources, and/or enhance the management of water resources, including increasing the use of renewable energy in the management and delivery of water.
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
In accordance with P.L. 111-11, Section 9504(b), eligible applicants include any: university, nonprofit research institution, or other organization with water or power delivery authority. In accordance with P.L. 111-11, Section 9509, there are no restrictions on the type of organization eligibility.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Specific use restrictions are identified within specific program announcements available on www.grants.gov.
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: $15,000-$2,500,000 Average: $895,000
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) project leverages technical, hydrological information for public consumption via an online portal and data hub to enhance public understanding of hydrology and water management across the 17 western states. Leveraging scientific research from Reclamation's baseline assessments, the NCAR, and other institutions, will create accessible interactive content and tools that simplify complex hydrology data for water managers and the public. The online portal will feature visual aids to present intricate scientific findings, while the data hub will provide relevant datasets, guiding users in selecting appropriate data for their needs. Key tools will include interactive visualizations of variables such as temperature, precipitation, and snowpack, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions.Fiscal Year2026: Funded research aimed at conserving, improving, and better managing water resources through modernizing data systems, enhancing environmental data management, and advancing water quality research.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, SECURE Water Act – Research Agreements (15.560) awarded$65.6 million across 125 grant awards, an average of $524,560 per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 45% of the money, colleges and universities 26% and nonprofits 11%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 19 | $29.2 million | 45% |
| Colleges and universities | 49 | $17.3 million | 26% |
| Nonprofits | 24 | $7.5 million | 11% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 2 | $5.9 million | 9.0% |
| Small businesses | 11 | $2.2 million | 3.3% |
| Businesses | 8 | $2.0 million | 3.1% |
| Other | 12 | $1.5 million | 2.3% |
By state
9 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 22 | $27.4 million |
| Arizona | 9 | $10.1 million |
| Nevada | 13 | $5.2 million |
| Colorado | 23 | $4.4 million |
| Utah | 6 | $3.6 million |
| Oregon | 2 | $2.7 million |
| North Carolina | 7 | $2.3 million |
| New Mexico | 7 | $2.1 million |
| Idaho | 7 | $1.5 million |
| Washington | 4 | $979,582 |
| Michigan | 2 | $944,963 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $650,185 |
| Texas | 3 | $559,370 |
| Massachusetts | 3 | $517,481 |
| Virginia | 2 | $482,232 |
| New Jersey | 2 | $399,601 |
| New York | 2 | $394,210 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $350,939 |
| Iowa | 1 | $300,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $199,815 |
| Delaware | 1 | $196,306 |
| Florida | 1 | $154,497 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | $131,803 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $62,463 |
| Nebraska | 1 | $25,400 |
| Wyoming | 1 | $15,000 |