WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 and 2026
The summary for the WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 and 2026 grant is detailed below.
This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants.
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WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 and 2026: The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects (AERP) provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems in support of the Department’s priorities. Through AERP, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and other entities as they study, design and construct aquatic ecosystem restoration projects that are collaboratively developed, have widespread regional benefits, and result in an improvement to the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat through restoration or improved fish passage.Restoring and connecting aquatic ecosystems offers wide-ranging benefits for both communities and the environment. Functioning aquatic and wetland ecosystems provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife, improve water quality, store excess carbon, help mitigate the impacts of drought and flood events, and support water supply resiliency for multiple uses.The Bureau of Reclamation’s Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects funding opportunity provides support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and is aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects also support the goals of the Interagency Drought Relief Working Group established in March 2021 and the National Drought Resilience Partnership. This is a program covered by the Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal climate, clean energy, water and wastewater infrastructure, and other covered investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.[1][1] For more information, see E.O. 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (January 27, 2023), https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad; Justice40 Initiative, https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/; Addendum to the Interim Implementation Guidance for the Justice 40 Initiative, M-21-28, on using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), M-23-09, (January 27, 2023), https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf.
Federal Grant Title: | WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 and 2026 |
Federal Agency Name: | Bureau of Reclamation (DOI-BOR) |
Grant Categories: | Environment |
Type of Opportunity: | Discretionary |
Funding Opportunity Number: | R25AS00029 |
Type of Funding: | Cooperative Agreement |
CFDA Numbers: | 15.580 |
CFDA Descriptions: | Information not provided |
Current Application Deadline: | February 17th, 2026 |
Original Application Deadline: | February 17th, 2026 |
Posted Date: | December 10th, 2024 |
Creation Date: | December 10th, 2024 |
Archive Date: | April 27th, 2026 |
Total Program Funding: | $95,000,000 |
Maximum Federal Grant Award: | $10,000,000 |
Minimum Federal Grant Award: | $500,000 |
Expected Number of Awards: | |
Cost Sharing or Matching: | Yes |
Last Updated: | December 10th, 2024 |
- Applicants Eligible for this Grant
- County governments - City or township governments - Special district governments - Independent school districts - Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) - Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities - Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) - For-profit organizations other than small businesses - Small businesses - Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification.)
- Additional Information on Eligibility
- Eligible Category A ApplicantsStates, Tribes, irrigation districts, or water districts;State, regional, or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority;Agencies established under State law for the joint exercise of powers;Other entities or organizations that own a facility that is eligible for upgrade, modification, or removal.All applicants must be located in the Western United States or Territories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended and supplemented; specifically: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands.Eligible Category B Applicants:Nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership with, and with the agreement of an entity described in Category A, with respect to a project involving land or infrastructure owned by the Category A entity. All Category B applicants must be located in the United States, or the specific Territories identified above.Category B applicants should include with their application a letter from the Category A partner stating that the Category A partner:Is acting in partnership with the applicant;Agrees to the submittal and content of the application; andIntends to participate in the project in some way, for example, by providing input, feedback, or other support for the project.
- Grant Announcement Contact
- Alisha James
[email protected]
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