WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects
At a glance
WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects is an open federal grant opportunity from the Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior). Applications are due September 8, 2027. Individual awards are listed as $50K – $3M, with about 30 awards expected and $60M 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 15.507 (WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow)).
Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.
Key facts
- Posted
- May 14, 2026
- Close date
- Sep 8, 2027
- Archive date
- Dec 7, 2027
- Award floor
- $50,000
- Award ceiling
- $3,000,000
- Est. total funding
- $60,000,000
- Expected awards
- 30
- 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; andOther organizations with water or power delivery authority.Category A applicants must be located in the Western United States or Territories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended and supplemented; 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. All Category B applicants must be located in the United States, or the specific Territories identified above under Category A Applicants. Applicants applying under this category should include a letter of support or other documentation demonstrating that they are acting in partnership with and with the agreement of the Category A entity. Reclamation may request additional information to verify that the applicant meets this requirement. Category C Applicants:Watershed groups as defined in the Cooperative Watershed Management Act, Section 6001(6). All Category C applicants must be located in the United States, or the specific Territories identified above under Category A Applicants. To be eligible, the watershed group must: Be a grassroots, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed;Capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources in the watershed;Make decisions on a consensus basis; andRepresent a diverse group of stakeholders representing different water use sectors, including hydroelectric producers; livestock grazing; timber production; land development; recreation or tourism; irrigated agriculture; the environment; municipal water supplies; private property owners; Federal, state and local governments; Tribes; and disadvantaged communities.Applications submitted by watershed groups will be ranked separately from all other applications.A watershed group is eligible to apply for 50-percent cost-shared funding without a Category A partner but must have a Category A partner to be eligible for 75-percent Federal funding. Watershed groups requesting 75-percent Federal funding should include a letter of support or other documentation demonstrating that they are acting in partnership with and with the agreement of the Category A entity. Reclamation may request additional information regarding whether an applicant meets the definition of a watershed group during the application review process. Ineligible ApplicantsThose not eligible to apply to include, but are not limited to, the following:Federal Governmental entitiesIndividuals Institutes of higher education
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.
The objective of the WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects funding opportunity is to invite eligible entities to apply for funding to implement projects per the authorizing language referenced above that benefit water resource management for multiple uses, including water conservation and efficiency projects, water infrastructure improvements, and river and watershed restoration. Projects that balance numerous community interests (agriculture, recreation, fisheries, power, etc.), were developed collaboratively, and provide significant watershed benefits will be prioritized under this funding opportunity. This 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 15.507
Historical data · not a predictionAgency contact (as published)
Bureau of Reclamation
bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov
tbd
Quick answers
When is the deadline for “WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects”?
According to the official notice, applications are due September 8, 2027. The notice adds: “This funding opportunity will have two application deadlines. The first application period will close Wednesday, September 9th, 2026, and the second application period will close Wednesday, September 8th, 2027.Wednesday, September 9th, 2026” Confirm the deadline and submission time on Grants.gov before applying.
Who is eligible to apply for “WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects”?
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 Enhancing Water Resources Projects”?
Per the notice, individual awards are listed as $50k – $3m, total estimated program funding is $60,000,000 and the agency expects to make about 30 awards.
How do I apply for “WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects”?
Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity R26AS00017), 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.
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- $50K – $300K
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