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Grants / Natural resources

WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program

Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior

Deadline
February 15, 2028First Round: October 7, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard TimeSecond Round: February 24, 2027, 4:00 p.m. Mountain…
Award size
$50,000 to $300,000About 100 awards
Matching funds
Not required
Fit for small groups
Possible fit

In plain language

This grant helps groups work on water management and watershed projects. It pays for planning, restoration, and developing local water solutions. It is meant for groups in specific states and territories.

The money can pay for

  • Watershed group development
  • Restoration planning
  • Watershed management project planning
  • Water resource sustainability

Who can apply

Groups that are or are starting a watershed group in one of the listed states or territories can apply.

Is it a fit for a small group?

Possible fit. This grant is for watershed groups, which may not be the main focus of small community nonprofits like food pantries or arts groups.

Before you apply

  • Eligible applicants must be watershed groups or start one
  • Applicants must be in specific states or territories
  • The grant is for water management, not general nonprofit work
  • Federal applicants need an active registration at SAM.gov and a Grants.gov account. Registration can take several weeks, so start early.

This summary was written by GrantGather with AI, based on the official listing. It can contain mistakes. Check the official listing on Grants.gov before you apply.

From the official listing

The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program funding opportunity invites eligible entities to apply for funding to develop local solutions to address their water management needs. This opportunity provides funding for watershed group development, restoration planning, and watershed management project planning and design. By providing this funding, Reclamation promotes water reliability and cooperation between stakeholders to reduce conflict, facilitate solutions to complex water issues, and stretch limited water supplies.The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management 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…

Read the full description

The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program funding opportunity invites eligible entities to apply for funding to develop local solutions to address their water management needs. This opportunity provides funding for watershed group development, restoration planning, and watershed management project planning and design. By providing this funding, Reclamation promotes water reliability and cooperation between stakeholders to reduce conflict, facilitate solutions to complex water issues, and stretch limited water supplies.The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management 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).

Opportunity number
R26AS00349
Posted
June 10, 2026
Total funding
$25 million
Eligible applicants
Others (see eligibility details)
Eligibility details
Eligible ApplicantsTo be eligible under this funding opportunity, you must be either an existing watershed group or sponsoring the establishment of a new watershed group as defined in the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (see definition below) that is located in one of the following states or territories: 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 Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. As defined in Section 6002 of the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (see "Legislative Authority" below for full citation), a "watershed group," is a grassroot, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the watershed and is capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources. A watershed group makes decisions on a consensus basis, and represents a diverse group of stakeholders, such as 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, and Tribes. New Watershed Groups: You must be a state, Tribe, local or special district (e.g., irrigation, water district, water conservation district), local governmental entity, interstate organization, a non-profit organization, or an…
Assistance listing
15.554 Cooperative Watershed Management
Agency contact
Bureau of Reclamation
bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov
tbd
Open the official listing on Grants.gov

Nonprofits are eligible here through the “Others” category. Read the eligibility details carefully.