Small Storage Program

The Bureau of Reclamation’s Small Storage Program was authorized by sections 40901(1) and 40903 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to promote Federal assistance to enhance water storage opportunities for future generations in support of the Department of the Interior's priorities.

In accordance with the BIL, as amended by P.L. 117-328, projects must have a water storage capacity of not less than 200 acre-feet and not more than 30,000 acre-feet. On April 6, 2023, the Bureau of Reclamation announced awards totaling $20 million for four small surface water and groundwater storage projects in California and Nevada. Reclamation anticipates releasing the next funding opportunity in late Summer or early Fall of 2023. Through this funding opportunity, Reclamation will continue to provide financial assistance for projects that, when implemented, will increase water supply reliability, improve operational flexibility, and enhance climate resiliency of water and related infrastructure throughout the 17 western states, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Small Storage Program Eligibility Overview

An eligible project must have a completed feasibility study that has been submitted to Reclamation for review, and for which the study is found to meet all of the requirements of Temporary Reclamation Manual Release CMP TRMR-127, Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects Feasibility Review Process. For future funding opportunities, a project must be found to meet the requirements of CMP TRMR-127 prior to publication of a funding opportunity for the project to be eligible for consideration. Reclamation will accept feasibility study submissions at any time from eligible non-Federal entities.

Documents

• Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects Feasibility Study Review Process Guidance
• Feasibility Study Process Map
• Agency Specific Procedures for Implementing the Council on Environmental Quality's Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for Water and Land-Related Resources Implementation Studies (Department of the Interior 707 DM 1)

Contact

For more information regarding the Small Storage Program, please contact the Small Storage Program Team at bor-sha-smallstorage@usbr.gov.

Join the Small Storage Program Mailing List

You may complete this form to receive notifications about the Small Storage Program from the Bureau of Reclamation.

Announcements

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• Webinar: Small Storage Program Update

  The Bureau of Reclamation hosted a webinar on February 22, 2023 to provide an update on the Small Storage Program. Reclamation discussed program requirements and how projects can become eligible to compete under future funding opportunities for the planning, design, and construction of projects. A Recording of the webinar can be viewed below.

  Download PowerPoint Slides.

  The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized the Small Storage Program which provides funding for surface and groundwater storage projects between 200 and 30,000 acre-feet. Projects must also increase the storage or move water to or from the storage project. 

  The program is available for non-federal water storage projects in Alaska, Hawaii or one of the other 17 Western States. Federal funding is available for up to 25-percent of eligible project costs. No more than $30 million is available per project. Up to $100 million will be made available under the program with the first awards to be announced in Spring 2023.

  To be eligible to receive a grant from this program, project sponsors must submit a feasibility study to Reclamation for review and approval that follows Reclamation’s published feasibility standards.

  The fiscal year 2024 funding opportunity for this program will be published later this year. 

  To learn more about how Reclamation implements the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit www.usbr.gov/bil.

• Webinar—Funding Opportunity Information and Feasibility Study Guidelines

  The Bureau of Reclamation hosted a webinar on September 20, 2022 to share information about the published funding opportunity. Click to watch a recording of the event. Funding is available for projects with a water storage capacity between 2,000 and 30,000 acre feet that increase surface water or groundwater storage or convey water directly or indirectly to the storage project. Project sponsors may request cost-shared funding for their project's planning, design and/or construction.

  Download PowerPoint slides

  The funding opportunity is available on grants.gov by searching for funding opportunity number R23AS00019. Applications are due to Reclamation on Dec. 9, 2022 at 5 p.m. MST.

  A completed feasibility study must also be submitted to Reclamation no later than Oct. 31, to determine project eligibility under this funding opportunity, using the study requirements Reclamation published in January 2022. Reclamation encourages applicants to submit their completed feasibility study to Reclamation before the October deadline. Eligibility does not entitle a project to any future federal funding or create a new project authorization.

  Applicants must provide a cost share of 75% or more of the total project costs.

  Webinar - Bureau of Reclamation's New Small Water Storage Grant Program

  The Bureau of Reclamation hosted a webinar on June 2, 2022 regarding feasibility studies for the new Small Water Storage Grant Program as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Click here to watch a recording of the event. The feasibility standards published in January 2022 following the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are available on Reclamation's website. To be eligible to receive a grant from this program, project sponsors must submit a feasibility study for Reclamation's review and approval.

  Download PowerPoint slides

  The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized this new program and provides funding for surface and groundwater storage projects between 2,000 and 30,000 acre-feet. It must also increase the storage or move water to or from the storage project.

  The project is available for non-Federal water storage projects in Alaska, Hawaii or one of the other 17 Western States. Federal funding is available for up to 25 percent of eligible project costs. No more than $30 million is available per project. Up to $100 million will be available for the next 5 years.

  The funding opportunity for this Program will be published later in 2022.

  To learn more about this program, visit Reclamation's Small Small Storage Grant Program site.

  To learn more about how Reclamation implements the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit Reclamation's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law site.