WaterSMART

Cooperative Watershed Management Program

The Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP) contributes to the WaterSMART strategy by providing funding to watershed groups to encourage diverse stakeholders to form local solutions to address their water management needs. Funding is provided on a competitive basis for:

Watershed Group Development and Watershed Restoration Planning: In 2012, Reclamation began providing funding for watershed group development, watershed restoration planning, and watershed management project design (Phase I). A watershed group is a self-sustaining, non-regulatory, consensus-based group that is composed of a diverse array of stakeholders, which may include, but is not limited to, private property owners, non-profit organizations, Federal, state, or local agencies, and tribes. As part of Phase I activities, applicants may use funding to develop bylaws, a mission statement, complete stakeholder outreach, develop a watershed restoration plan, and watershed management project design. For Phase I projects, Reclamation will award a successful applicant up to $50,000 per year for a period of up to two years with no non-Federal cost-share required.

Implementation of Watershed Management Projects: In 2017, Reclamation started to provide cost-shared financial assistance to watershed groups to implement watershed management projects (Phase II). These on-the-ground projects, collaboratively developed by members of a watershed group, address critical water supply needs and water quality concerns, helping water users meet competing demands and avoid conflicts over water. Reclamation will award up to $100,000 per project over a two-year period. For Phase II projects, applicants must contribute at least 50% of the total project costs.

Announcements

• Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase II Webinar

  Watch the Presentation

• Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase II Funding Opportunity Available

  The Bureau of Reclamation has published a funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase II. Established watershed management groups may apply to this funding opportunity to implement on-the-ground watershed management projects. Eligible projects may address critical water supply needs, water quality concerns, or restoration needs, helping water users meet competing demands and avoid conflicts over water. Applicants may request up to $300,000 for projects to be completed within two years. A 50% non-federal cost share is required. Applications are due on Nov. 17, 2020. Read the Funding Opportunity →

• Reclamation provides $2.8 million for watershed group development and restoration planning

  

  The Bureau of Reclamation has selected 29 projects to receive $2.8 million to complete watershed group development, watershed restoration planning and watershed management project design. The funding is shared with groups across 12 states, including groups in Alaska and Hawaii, who are receiving funding for the first time through this program. Read More →

  Project Descriptions

• Reclamation funds local watershed projects in Montana, Oklahoma and Idaho

  The Bureau of Reclamation will provide a total of $331,792 to three groups who will undertake collaborative, on-the-ground watershed management projects. The funding will help address critical water supply needs, water quality concerns, restoration needs, meet competing demands and avoid conflicts over water. The Reclamation funding will be leveraged to support $1.2 million in watershed management improvements. Read More  →