Colorado River System Conservation Pilot (15.567)
Colorado River System Conservation Pilot (Assistance Listing 15.567) is run by the Bureau of Reclamation, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $69.9 million in 5 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $14.0 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $10.5 million. Half of the 5 awards fell between $2.0 million and $26.5 million, and they ranged from $1.5 million to $29.4 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$69.9 million
- Grant awards5
- Typical award$10.5 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$10.5 million
- Size rank918 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements
Key findings
- It is the 918th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- Awards went to recipients in 3 states and territories.
What the program funds
This program supports conservation projects that create “system water” through voluntary compensated reductions in water use or provides environmental benefits or restoration of ecosystems or habitats in the Colorado River Basin. Includes Drought Contingency Planning activities to enhance conservation through expanded measurement and monitoring.
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
Eligibility of the Upper Colorado River Commission established through PL 117-328.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Pursuant to PL117-328 – Pilot projects are authorized to be funded through grants to public entities that use water from the Colorado River Basin for municipal purposes for projects that are implemented by 1 or more non-Federal entities or grants or other appropriate financial agreements to provide additional funds for renewing or implementing water conservation agreements that are in existence on the date of enactment of this Act.
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
BIL Funding Range: $8.7M-29.75M Average: $19.2M IRA Funding Range: $19M - 450M Average: $23.45M
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Streamgaging Projects, Transit Loss Studies, Reservoir Evaporation.Fiscal Year2026: Fund water leasing programs that supports voluntary water right agreements and verifies that leased water improves flow conditions in critical reaches. Fund multi-benefit projects that restore ecosystems and habitats impacted by drought.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Colorado River System Conservation Pilot (15.567) awarded $69.9 million across 5 grant awards, an average of $14.0 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Colorado River Commission | Utah | 2 | $55.9 million |
| Orchard Mesa Irrigation District | Colorado | 2 | $12.0 million |
| Kansas Department of Agriculture | Kansas | 1 | $2.0 million |
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 58% of the money.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 4 | $40.5 million | 58% |
| Other | 1 | $29.4 million | 42% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.