WaterSMART Drought Response Program
At a glance
WaterSMART Drought Response Program is a closed federal grant opportunity from the Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior). The application deadline was July 28, 2026. Individual awards are listed as $25K – $1.5M, with about 20 awards expected and $13.5M in total estimated funding. Applicant types listed as eligible include others (see notice). Cost sharing or matching is required. It is funded under Assistance Listing 15.514 (Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief).
Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.
Key facts
- Posted
- Mar 5, 2026
- Close date
- Jul 28, 2026
- Archive date
- Oct 3, 2031
- Award floor
- $25,000
- Award ceiling
- $1,500,000
- Est. total funding
- $13,500,000
- Expected awards
- 20
- Cost sharing
- Required
- Funding instrument
- Grant, Cooperative Agreement
- Opportunity category
- Discretionary
Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Additional information on eligibility (from the notice)
Applicants eligible to receive an award under this funding opportunity are described below. Category A Applicants States, Tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts; State, regional, or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and Other organizations with water or power delivery authority. Category A applicants must be located in the Western United States or Territories; specifically: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Category B Applicants: Nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership with, and with the agreement of an entity described in Category A. Category B applicants should include with their application a letter from the Category A partner stating that the Category A partner: Is acting in partnership with the applicant;Agrees to the submittal and content of the application; andIntends to participate in the project in some way, for example, by providing input, feedback, or other support for the project. Partners do not necessarily need to contribute cost share funding. All Category B applicants must be located in the United States or the specific Territories identified above. Ineligible Applicants - Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:Federal Governmental entitiesIndividuals Institutes of higher education PLEASE NOTE: Applicants in Puerto Rico and Alaska and Category B applicants are not eligible to apply for Drought Contingency Plans as applicant eligibility is defined in the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1999, as amended.
Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.
What it funds
Official synopsis as published by the agency, formatted for readability.
Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and other entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply and hydropower reliability. The WaterSMART Drought Response Program NOFO invites eligible applicants to submit proposals for projects designed to improve drought resilience by developing effective water management strategies and drought contingency plans. Funding under the Drought Response Program supports a range of initiatives including infrastructure improvements for increased water storage and distribution capabilities, water source diversification, decision-making tools for water management, and comprehensive planning to prepare for and respond to drought conditions. WaterSMART Drought Response Program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332).
Assistance Listing
What is an ALN?Reported obligations under ALN 15.514
Historical data · not a predictionAgency contact (as published)
Bureau of Reclamation
bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov
tbd
Quick answers
Who is eligible to apply for “WaterSMART Drought Response Program”?
The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible: Others (see notice). Additional restrictions may apply; review the full notice.
How much funding is available through “WaterSMART Drought Response Program”?
Per the notice, individual awards are listed as $25k – $1.5m, total estimated program funding is $13,500,000 and the agency expects to make about 20 awards.
How do I apply for “WaterSMART Drought Response Program”?
Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity R26AS00016), and review the full announcement and application package. Organizations applying through Grants.gov generally need an active SAM.gov registration and a Grants.gov account, which can take several weeks to set up.
Related open opportunities
Matched on shared Assistance Listings, agency, categories and eligible applicant types.
Native American Affairs: Fiscal Year 2025 Colorado River Basin Tribal Drought Resiliency Program
Bureau of Reclamation- Award range
- $50K – $1M
- Closes
- Nov 20, 2026
- Who can apply
- Federally recognized tribal governments and Others (see notice)
WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects
Bureau of Reclamation- Award range
- $1K – $120M
- Closes
- Aug 26, 2027
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects
Bureau of Reclamation- Award range
- $1K – $40M
- Closes
- Aug 26, 2027
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects
Bureau of Reclamation- Award range
- $50K – $3M
- Closes
- Sep 8, 2027
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program
Bureau of Reclamation- Award range
- $50K – $300K
- Closes
- Feb 15, 2028
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
F26AS00062: Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act FY 2026
Fish and Wildlife Service- Award range
- $2K – $500K
- Closes
- Oct 13, 2026
- Who can apply
- State governments, County governments, City or township governments and 12 more