WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program

The summary for the WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program 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. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Bureau of Reclamation, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program: The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program funding opportunity invites eligible entities to apply for funding to develop local solutions to address their water management needs. This opportunity provides funding for watershed group development, restoration planning, and watershed management project planning and design. By providing this funding, Reclamation promotes water reliability and cooperation between stakeholders to reduce conflict, facilitate solutions to complex water issues, and stretch limited water supplies.The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332).

Federal Grant Title:	WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program
Federal Agency Name:	Bureau of Reclamation (DOI-BOR)
Grant Categories:	Natural Resources
Type of Opportunity:	Discretionary
Funding Opportunity Number:	R26AS00349
Type of Funding:	Grant
CFDA Numbers:	15.554
CFDA Descriptions:	Information not provided
Current Application Deadline:	February 15th, 2028
Original Application Deadline:	February 15th, 2028
Posted Date:	June 10th, 2026
Creation Date:	June 10th, 2026
Archive Date:	May 15th, 2028
Total Program Funding:	$25,000,000
Maximum Federal Grant Award:	$300,000
Minimum Federal Grant Award:	$50,000
Expected Number of Awards:	100
Cost Sharing or Matching:	No
Last Updated:	June 10th, 2026

Applicants Eligible for this Grant: Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification.)
Additional Information on Eligibility: Eligible ApplicantsTo be eligible under this funding opportunity, you must be either an existing watershed group or sponsoring the establishment of a new watershed group as defined in the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (see definition below) that is located in one of the following states or territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, 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 Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. As defined in Section 6002 of the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (see "Legislative Authority" below for full citation), a "watershed group," is a grassroot, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the watershed and is capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources. A watershed group makes decisions on a consensus basis, and represents a diverse group of stakeholders, such as hydroelectric producers, livestock grazing, timber production, land development, recreation or tourism, irrigated agriculture, the environment, municipal water supplies, private property owners, Federal, state and local governments, and Tribes. New Watershed Groups: You must be a state, Tribe, local or special district (e.g., irrigation, water district, water conservation district), local governmental entity, interstate organization, a non-profit organization, or an institute of higher education sponsoring a watershed group located in a state or territory identified above. In addition, you must meet all the following requirements:Be sponsoring the development of a new watershed group;Be able to significantly affect or be affected by the quality or quantity of water in the watershed; andBe capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources. Existing Watershed Groups: Your watershed group must:Meet the definition of a watershed group as described under the Cooperative Watershed Management Act,Be located in a state or territory identified above; andBe legally incorporated as a non-profit organization. A watershed group member or fiscal agent may apply on behalf of the watershed group if they are a state, tribe, local or special district (e.g., irrigation, water district, water conservation district), local governmental entity, interstate organization, or a non-profit organization. Applicant Category GuidanceIn general, you should apply as a New Watershed Group if your group is just getting started, has completed little or no watershed restoration planning, and requires more substantial support for building the capacity of the watershed group and completing outreach to stakeholders. If your group has been active in the watershed for several years and has previously conducted some watershed planning, you should apply as an Existing Watershed Group, even if your group is not incorporated as a legal entity. If you have previously received funding through a CWMP grant, you should apply as an Existing Watershed Group and explain how your new project differs from and builds on your past Phase I project(s). Although New and Existing Watershed Groups will be scored using the same evaluation criteria (see Section E.1. Evaluation Criteria), they will be ranked separately to ensure fairness. During the merit review of the application, Reclamation may change your applicant category (for example, from an existing watershed group to a new watershed group), if appropriate. Ineligible ApplicantsThose not eligible to apply include, but are not limited to, the following:Federal Governmental entitiesIndividuals
Grant Announcement Contact: Christina Munoz
[email protected]
Grants Officer email
Similar Government Grants: • WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I for Fiscal Year 2025; • WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I for Fiscal Year 2023; • WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I Grants; • WaterSMART Cooperative WatershedManagement Program Phase I Grants; • WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase II; • WaterSMART: Cooperative Watershed Management Program Grants for FY 2012; • WaterSMART: Cooperative Watershed Management Program Grants for FY 2013; • Notice of Intent to Award Funds to Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership
More Grants from the Bureau of Reclamation: • Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects; • Native American Affairs: Fiscal Year 2025 Colorado River Basin Tribal Drought Resiliency P...; • WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects; • WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects; • Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects