Basin Studies
Program Requirements
A detailed description of the requirements and process for conducting a Basin Study is contained in the Basin Study Framework. The following is a summary of the Basin Study Program requirements:
- Studies must focus on river basins or sub-basins in the 17 Western Reclamation States where imbalances in water supply and demand exist or are projected.
- Non-Federal partners must contribute at least 50 percent of the total study costs in non-Federal funding.
- Eligible non-Federal cost-share partners include states, tribes, water districts, cities or other local governmental entities with water management authority located in the 17 Western Reclamation States.
- Studies must be completed within two years from the date a memorandum of agreement is entered into with non-Federal study partners, unless Reclamation determines that an extension or phasing of the study is warranted (extensions and phasing will be approved only on a case-by-case basis).
- Studies must be conducted in accordance with the memorandum of agreement applicable to the particular study, to be developed by Reclamation in cooperation with the non-Federal cost-share partner(s) before work on the study begins.
- Each Basin Study will include four basic components:
- Projections of water supply and demand within the basin, or improvements on existing projections, taking into consideration the impacts of climate change;
- Analysis of how existing water and power infrastructure and operations will perform in the face of changing water realities such as population increases and climate change;
- Development of structural and nonstructural options to improve operations and infrastructure to supply adequate water in the future; and
- A trade-off analysis of the options identified and findings and recommendations as appropriate. Such analysis simply examines all proposed alternatives in terms of their relative cost, environmental impact, risk, stakeholder response, or other attributes common to the alternatives. The analysis can be either quantitative or qualitative in measurement.
A proposal may also be selected to complete a play of study. A plan of study will help the cost-share partners define the outcomes and set the scope and focus for a potential future Basin Study. It will be developed jointly by the Bureau of Reclamation and the cost-share partners. The cost-share partners will need to submit a proposal next year during the funding opportunity announcement to receive Reclamation's assistance in complet
Last updated: 4/30/13