SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has announced the availability of up to $10 million in grants, under the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act, for groundwater banking or recharge projects proposed by local agencies within the Central Valley Project.

Eligible projects must reduce, avoid, or offset expected water supply impacts to the CVP’s Friant Division long-term contractors caused by the San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s Interim and Restoration Flows.

A Funding Opportunity Announcement invites applicants to cost share with Reclamation for planning, design, environmental compliance, and construction costs.  The announcement, R13AF20008, is available at www.grants.gov.

Proposals must be submitted as outlined on www.grants.gov by Monday, May 8, 2013, at 12 p.m. It is anticipated that awards will be made in summer 2013. For more information, please contact Erin Rice, SJRRP Natural Resources Specialist, 916-978-4415, or erice@usbr.gov.

For more information about the SJRRP, visit www.restoresjr.net.