Recreation Resources Management

The Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation funds cost-share partnerships with state, county, local governments, and special districts to plan, develop, operate, maintain, and replace recreation and fish and wildlife resource facilities at Reclamation project recreation areas, Assistance Listing 15.524, with the most recent award on October 1, 2025.

The program funds concrete recreation infrastructure and operations: campground construction and modernization (including ADA-accessible sites), boat ramp and dock improvements, vault toilet and restroom replacement, water system upgrades, road resurfacing, vegetation management on federal recreation lands, parking lot improvements, and daily operations and maintenance staffing at reservoirs and state parks across the western United States. Recent awards demonstrate funding for projects ranging from 29-site campground construction near Lost Creek Reservoir ($5.55 million) to vegetation management operations across 136,941 acres at Columbia Basin Wildlife Area over five years ($900 thousand), to multi-year operations contracts for large state parks like Folsom-Auburn ($94.2 million over five years).

Award activity has been steady: 14 awards in both 2024 and 2025, with 19 in 2023 and 21 in 2022. Combined federal dollars obligated total $243.8 million across 352 historical awards; when including non-federal matching contributions, total obligated funding reaches $414.5 million. The program is entirely funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, which holds all 352 awards in the portfolio.

The assistance-type mix is split evenly: 173 Project Grants (49 percent) and 173 Cooperative Agreements (49 percent), with 3 Block Grants and 3 Formula Grants representing the remainder. Project Grants fund discrete capital improvements; Cooperative Agreements support ongoing operations, maintenance, and management responsibilities under long-term managing partner agreements. Typical award magnitudes range from under $100 thousand for focused repairs to multiple millions for multi-year operations contracts or major construction.

Eligible applicants are non-federal managing partners—state, county, local government entities, and special districts—that currently manage or will manage Reclamation project recreation areas under formal managing partner agreements. The program prioritizes proposals that provide for public health and safety, comply with federal and state law, protect critical resources such as wetlands and endangered species habitat, and modernize facilities to meet current accessibility and safety standards. Environmental compliance (NEPA) may be required depending on project scope.

No recent grant opportunities appear open in the source material; the most recent posted solicitations date to 2020 and earlier. Opportunities historically have been issued without full and open competition based on unique qualifications—the recipient typically holds an existing managing partner agreement with Reclamation for the specific recreation area and is the sole qualified administrator.