WaterSMART

WaterSMART Basin Studies

Basin Studies are collaborative studies, cost-shared with non-Federal partners, to evaluate water supply and demand and help ensure reliable water supplies by identifying strategies to address imbalances in water supply and demand. Each study includes four key elements:

• State-of-the-art projections of future supply and demand by river basin.
• An analysis of how the basin’s existing water and power operations and infrastructure will perform in the face of changing water realities.
• Development of strategies to meet current and future water demands.
• A trade-off analysis of strategies identified.

Documents

• Basin Studies Fact Sheet

Contacts

For more information regarding the Basin Study Program, please contact Avra Morgan at 303-445-2906.

• Interior Region 5: Missouri Basin & Interior Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas Gulf - Marlena Lanini, 406-247-7743 or mlanini@usbr.gov
• Interior Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin - Brandi Rose Worthington, (801) 524-3639 or broseworthington@usbr.gov
• Interior Region 8: Lower Colorado Basin - Deanna Morrell, (702) 293-8589 or dmorrell@usbr.gov
• Interior Region 9: Columbia-Pacific Northwest - Jessica Peters, (208) 270-1462 or jepeters@usbr.gov
• Interior Region 10: California-Great Basin - Mike Dietl, (916) 397-4483 or mdietl@usbr.gov

If you are unclear what Region you are located in, please see Reclamation’s regional map, available at: https://www.usbr.gov/main/offices.html.

You may complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notification from the Bureau of Reclamation.

Announcements

• Basin Studies Webinar

  The Bureau of Reclamation will host a webinar on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 10:00 am MDT, to discuss information about WaterSMART Basin Studies, including eligible applicants, program requirements, and the selection process. Click here to join the webinar.

• Reclamation releases West Salt River Basin Study

  The study indicates the demand for water in the area will increase over time,and without new supplies, imbalances between renewable supply and demand will also grow. This study will help water managers determine water resource management priorities and investments in the future. Reclamation partnered with the West Valley Water Association to complete the study. The report is available on Reclamation's Basin Study website.

• Reclamation announces $4.6 million in funding for Basin Studies

  Bureau of Reclamation announced today that Reclamation will use $4.6 million to partner with water managers to conduct comprehensive water studies. This funding will help complete four basin studies in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Read More →

• American River Basin Study finds that increasing temperatures and changing precipitation will impact basin through rest of 21st century

  The American River Basin in central California expects to see increasing temperatures and a declining snowpack through the end of the 21st century. The Bureau of Reclamation released the American River Basin Study today, which also found an increased variability of fall and winter precipitation that will amplify the severity of droughts and flooding in the basin. The report is available on Reclamation's Basin Study website.

• Reclamation releases Pecos River - New Mexico Basin Study

  The Pecos River Basin in New Mexico is likely to experience growing water shortages as temperatures continue to rise through the next 100 years. These gaps between water supply and demand were identified in a new study funded through the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Basin Study Program. Read More →

• Upper Missouri River Basin Study identifies strategies to meet future water demands and improve drought resiliency

  The Bureau of Reclamation released the Missouri River Headwaters Basin Study that provides options to meet the increased water demand and a change in the timing of the snowmelt runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Fort Peck Reservoir. The basin covers about 50,000 square miles and is the primary water source for 320,000 people and about 1.1 million acres of irrigated lands. Read More →

• Reclamation provides funding for two water management pilots in central Oregon

  The Bureau of Reclamation is allocating $219,496 for two pilot projects in Central Oregon. The Central Oregon Irrigation District and East Fork Irrigation District water management pilots will analyze improvements to conserve water for identified needs in their areas. The two districts are providing $232,480 in cost-sharing for the two pilot projects. Read More →.