Through watersmart sustain and manage americas resources for tomorrow, reclamation leverages federal and nonfederal funding to work cooperatively with states, tribes, and local entities as they plan…

The Union Water Supply Corporation (UWSC) was awarded a $9,411,120.00 federal Project Grant by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief program (CFDA 15.514). The grant funding will support UWSC's planning, design, and construction of a new groundwater well and treatment plant. This project aims to significantly increase the overall resiliency of UWSC's water system and enable the organization to reduce its reliance on leasing additional surface water from the Rio Grande River to meet demands. The grant award period runs from January 13, 2025, through the ultimate completion date of April 30, 2027. The Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief program provides financial assistance to state, local, and tribal entities for developing drought contingency plans and implementing projects that enhance water supply reliability and drought resilience.

Through watersmart sustain and manage americas resources for tomorrow, reclamation leverages federal and nonfederal funding to work cooperatively with states, tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments and attention to local water conflicts. Reclamations watersmart drought response program supports a proactive approach to drought by providing financial assistance to water managers to develop and update comprehensive drought plans drought contingency planning and implement projects that will build longterm resiliency to drought drought resiliency projects. Through the drought response program, reclamation invites states, tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, organizations with water or power delivery authority, and nonprofit conservation groups to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with reclamation on drought resiliency projects that will increase the reliability of water supplies and improve water management.selected through notice of funding opportunity no. R24AS00007THE union water supply corporation uwsc, located in southern texas, is a legally chartered corporation that provides potable water and wastewater utility services for rural residents in starr county. Uwsc currently owns 467 acreft per year of water rights from the RIO grande river. Uswc has consistently used 100% of their permitted surface water rights and have been forced to lease an additional 433 acreft per year to meet basic demands. Uswc will complete planning, design, and construction for a new groundwater well and a groundwater treatment plant that will significantly increase the overall resiliency of the water system and enable uwsc to forego leasing water from an external provider to cover supply gaps.