Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects

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 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). The goal of the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects NOFO is to invite eligible entities to apply for funding to implement projects that conserve water and enhance water supply reliability in water delivery systems. It encourages the implementation of small-scale projects identified through prior planning efforts, such as canal lining, water delivery automation, flow measurement, and other projects that increase water efficiency. Eligibility: Eligible Applicants - 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. 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.All Category B applicants must be located in the United States, or the specific Territories identified above.Note: Partners do not necessarily need to contribute cost share funding. Ineligible Applicants: Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:Federal Governmental entitiesIndividuals Institutes of higher education Opportunity number: R25AS00279. Closing date: 2026-06-02. Funding: up to USD 125,000; floor USD 1,000; estimated total USD 4,000,000; 50 expected awards.

Eligible Applicants - 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. 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.All Category B applicants must be located in the United States, or the specific Territories identified above.Note: Partners do not necessarily need to contribute cost share funding. Ineligible Applicants: Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:Federal Governmental entitiesIndividuals Institutes of higher education

Education and Higher Education

United States

Official opportunity number: R25AS00279.

up to USD 125,000; floor USD 1,000; estimated total USD 4,000,000; 50 expected awards

Closes 2026-06-02: Closes 2026-06-02: Jun 2, 2026.

Confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, and submission route on the official call page.

Plan internal approvals, partner confirmations, budgets, letters, and portal submission before the final deadline.

Use the official Grants.gov listing for application package, forms, attachments, and agency-specific instructions. Submit by 2026-06-02 unless the agency updates the official listing.

Before submitting, check required documents, eligible costs, attachments, page limits, institutional approvals, and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration, or nomination stage.