Water Conservation Field Services Program: Financial Assistance for Fiscal Year 2024

Background
The U.S. Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated Island Communities. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.

Grant Details
The Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) provides support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (E.O. 14008) and aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (E.O. 13985).

Drought conditions across the western United States impact a wide range of communities and sectors, including agriculture, cities, Tribes, the environment, recreation, hydropower producers, and others. Reclamation established the WCFSP in 1996 to encourage recipients of water from Federal water projects to conserve water and to assist agricultural and urban water districts in preparing and implementing water conservation plans in accordance with the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982.

This WCFSP NOFO provides funding for projects that result in water management improvements. These projects support water managers in activities to plan, prioritize, and design projects that conserve and use water more efficiently; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants eligible to receive financial assistance to fund activities under this NOFO include: Irrigation and water districts, Tribes, and state governmental entities with water delivery authority and a defined relationship to one or more authorized Bureau of Reclamation Project(s) located within the Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region. A non-Federal cost-share of 50% is required.

Period of Performance
Anticipated Award Date: August 31, 2024
Anticipated Project Completion Date: August 31, 2026

Grant Value
Approximately $250,000 is available for this NOFO.
Maximum Award: $50,000
Minimum Award: $0

Place of Performance
Eligible applicants include any state, Tribe, irrigation district, water district, or other organization with water or power delivery authority located in Reclamation’s Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region.