WaterSMART: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for FY 2012

Post Date

November 7th 2011

Application Due Date

January 19th 2012

Funding Opportunity Number

R12SF80049

CFDA Number(s)

15.507

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Grant

Funding Activity Categories

Natural Resources

Number of Awards

50

Eligibility Categories

Other

Under P.L. 111-11, Section 9502, an eligible applicant is a State, Indian tribe, irrigation district, water district, or other organization with water or power delivery authority. Applicants must also be located in the western United States or Territories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended and supplemented; specifically: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Those not eligible include the following entities: ╔ Federal governmental entities ╔ Institutions of higher education ╔ Individuals

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $18000000

• Award Range:

  $0 - $1500000

Grant Description

The Nation faces an increasing set of water resource challenges. Aging infrastructure, rapid population growth, depletion of groundwater resources, impaired water quality associated with particular land uses and land covers, water needed for human and environmental uses, and climate variability and change all play a role in determining the amount of fresh water available at any given place and time. Water shortages and water-use conflicts have become more commonplace in many areas of the United States, even in normal water years. As competition for water resources growsяfor crop irrigation, growing cities and communities, energy production, and the environmentяthe need for information and tools to aid water resource managers also grows. Water issues and challenges are increasing across the Nation, but particularly in the West, due to prolonged drought. These water issues are exacerbating the challenges facing traditional water management approaches which by themselves no longer meet todayуs needs. The U.S. Department of the Interiorуs (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage Americaуs Resources for Tomorrow) Program establishes a framework to provide Federal leadership and assistance on the efficient use of water, integrating water and energy policies to support the sustainable use of all natural resources, and coordinating the water conservation activities of various Department bureaus and offices. Through the Program, the Department is working to achieve a sustainable water management strategy to meet the Nationуs water needs. The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to invite States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency, benefit endangered and threatened species, facilitate water markets, or carry out other activities to address climate-related impacts on water or prevent any water-related crisis or conflict. Water conservation, use of water markets, and improved efficiency are crucial elements of any plan to address western United States water issues. With leveraged water and energy efficiency grants, an important step will be taken towards increasing conservation for a more efficient use of water in the West.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of the Interior

• Office:

  Bureau of Reclamation

• Agency Contact:

  Michelle Maher
  Grants Officer
  Phone 303-445-2025

• Agency Mailing Address:

  Grants Officer

• Agency Email Address:

  mmaher@usbr.gov

• Location:

  Bureau of Reclamation - Denver Office