WaterSMART Planning and Project Design Grants

To provide cost-shared funding for collaborative planning and design projects that support water management improvements. This includes funding to (1) conduct planning activities and develop a strategy to improve water supplies, including drought res

The objective of the Planning and Project Design Grants program is to leverage money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation for initial, or early-stage planning activities to identify and prioritize potential projects that will improve water supplies, water management, drought resiliency, and other water resources enhancement projects, and to develop a strategy document for the implementation of those projects. The program also provides cost share funding for the final design of on-the-ground water supply, water management, drought resiliency, and multi-purpose watershed management construction projects that are eligible for construction funding under 15.507 WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants, 15.514 Drought Resiliency Projects, and 15.579 Enhancing Water Resources Projects.

See above.

General public, entities with water or power delivery authority, state, county, and local governmental entities, Tribes, watershed groups, nonprofit conservation organizations and other entities located in eligible states and territories previously described in applicant eligibility.

Planning activities eligible for funding for the development of a water strategy include outreach and partnership building; technical analyses, scoping, and other planning activities described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Project design activities eligible for funding include developing project requirements and evaluating design alternatives; evaluating site alternatives and selecting the project site; preparing final design drawings and specifications for construction; evaluating economic conditions, preparing project cost estimates and developing a project implementation plan; conducting biological and cultural resource surveys; researching legal and institutional requirements such as land ownership and easements; and other design-related activities described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Activities that are not eligible for funding include the design of projects considered normal operations, maintenance, and replacement; pilot projects and studies to evaluate technical capability, economic feasibility, or viability for full-scale implementation or to test an unproven material or technology; and planning and design activities related to on-farm improvements. Each Notice of Funding Opportunity offered under this listing provides specific information about ineligible project types and activities. Monitoring, measurement, and other fieldwork costs are generally limited to 30% of the total project costs or the amount specified in the funding opportunity. The costs to develop decision support tools are limited to 30% of the total project costs or the amount specified in the funding opportunity. Legal costs are also limited to the activities specified in the funding opportunity and cannot exceed the amount specified in the opportunity.

None. Preapplication coordination is not required but is highly encouraged. Potential applicants can contact Reclamation program staff to discuss their project. Contact information can be found at https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart. Projects that include monitoring, measurement, or other fieldwork (e.g. water quality monitoring, vegetation surveys, cultural resource surveys, geotechnical investigations) or the collection of baseline information, will require compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act before these activities may begin.

Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov. All applications will be evaluated using criteria prioritizing projects with significant water resources benefits, prior planning and stakeholder support for the project, applicant's ability and readiness to implement the project, that meet Presidential and Department priorities, and provide non-Federal cost share that exceeds the minimum statutory requirement.

Proposals received in response to the funding opportunity are reviewed through a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the merit review criteria and on the objectives of the funding opportunity. The review of applications will follow the requirements of E.O. 14332, such as ensuring policy review by senior appointees, and that selections demonstrably advance the President's policy priorities consistent with applicable law.

Application deadlines are listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and vary from year to year. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines.

See Reclamation's WaterSMART website https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/ for schedule information.